Q: CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

TENDER TROUBLES

"Jo, I'm anxious about Beth."

"Why, Mother, she has seemed unusually well since the babies came."

"It's not her health that troubles me now, it's her spirits. I'm sure there is something on her mind, and I want you to discover what it is."

"What makes you think so, Mother?"

"She sits alone a good deal, and doesn't talk to her father as much as she used. I found her crying over the babies the other day. When she sings, the songs are always sad ones, and now and then I see a look in her face that I don't understand. This isn't like Beth, and it worries me."

"Have you asked her about it?"

"I have tried once or twice, but she either evaded my questions or looked so distressed that I stopped. I never force my children's confidence, and I seldom have to wait for long."

Mrs. March glanced at Jo as she spoke, but the face opposite seemed quite unconscious of any secret disquietude but Beth's, and after sewing thoughtfully for a minute, Jo said, "I think she is growing up, and so begins to dream dreams, and have hopes and fears and fidgets, without knowing why or being able to explain them. Why, Mother, Beth's eighteen, but we don't realize it, and treat her like a child, forgetting she's a woman."

"So she is. Dear heart, how fast you do grow up," returned her mother with a sigh and a smile.

"Can't be helped, Marmee, so you must resign yourself to all sorts of worries, and let your birds hop out of the nest, one by one. I promise never to hop very far, if that is any comfort to you."

Answer the following questions:
1. Who had something bothering her?
2. Who was worried about her?
3. Who did she tell?
4. Why was she worried?
5. Was she laughing with her babies?
6. How old is she?
7. Who is Mrs. March?
8. Does she sing happy songs?
9. Is she ill?
10. Did she chat with her?
A: 1. Beth
2. Her mother
3. Jo
4. She sits alone and doesn't talk to her father
5. no
6. eighteen
7. mother
8. No
9. no
10. no
Q: The Indian National Congress () (INC, often called Congress) is a broad-based political party in India. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa. From the late 19th-century, and especially after 1920, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress became the principal leader of the Indian independence movement, with over 15 million members and over 70 million participants. The Congress led India to independence from Great Britain, and powerfully influenced other anti-colonial nationalist movements in the British Empire.

The Congress is a secular party whose social liberal platform is generally considered on the centre-left of Indian politics. The Congress' social policy is based upon the Gandhian principle of Sarvodayathe lifting up of all sections of societywhich involves the improvement of the lives of economically underprivileged and socially marginalised people. The party primarily endorses social liberalism seeking to balance individual liberty and social justice, and secularism asserting the right to be free from religious rule and teachings.

After India's independence in 1947, the Congress formed the government at center in most instances, and many regional state governments. Congress became India's dominant political party; , in the 15 general elections since independence, it has won an outright majority on six occasions and has led the ruling coalition a further four times, heading the central government for 49 years. There have been seven Congress Prime Ministers, the first being Jawaharlal Nehru (194764), and the most recent Manmohan Singh (200414). Although it did not fare well in the last general elections in India in 2014, it remains one of two major, nationwide, political parties in India, along with the right-wing, Hindu nationalist, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). In the 2014 general election, the Congress had its poorest post-independence general election performance, winning only 44 seats of the 543-member Lok Sabha.

Answer the following questions:
1. What is INC?
2. Was INC ever independent?
3. Who did they break free from?
4. Who was the leader?
5. what happened in 1947?
6. How many prime ministers were there?
7. Who was the first one?
8. and the most recent one?
9. why did congress perform slowly in elections?
10. How many political parties are there in India?
11. what are they?
A: 1. Indian National Congress
2. yes
3. Great Britain
4. Mahatma Gandhi
5. India gained independence
6. seven
7. Jawaharlal Nehru
8. Manmohan Singh
9. unknown
10. two
11. Bhartiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress
Q: CHAPTER XXVI

A LIVELY GAME OF BASEBALL

If ever a boy was mad clear through that boy was the sneak of Putnam Hall. As the laugh ended, Mumps shook his fist at one and another of his tormentors.

"Think you are smart, don't you?" he spluttered in his rage. "I'll fix you all! I'll go and tell Captain Putnam all about this spread, and then maybe you won't catch it!"

"Mumps, keep quiet," said Dick, placing himself between the enraged one and the door. "Make too much noise, and I'll promise you the worst drubbing you ever received."

"If you peach on me, I'll give you a second whipping," added Tom.

"This is a gentlemanly affair," put in Larry.

"The boy who gives us away gets a thrashing from me."

"Ditto myself," said Frank; and several others said the same. All looked so determined that Mumps fell back in alarm.

"You let me go," he whined. "I don't want to stay here any longer."

"You can't go until you promise to keep quiet," said Dick.

"And you'll promise right now," cried Tom, seizing a pitcher of ice water that had been hidden under one of the stands. Leaping on a bed he held the pitcher over Mumps' head.

"Promise, quick, or I'll let her go!" he went on.

"Oh, don't!" yelled Mumps, as a few drops of the water landed on his head and ran down his neck.

"Do you promise to keep silent?" demanded Dick.

"Yes, yes!"

"All right. Now mind, if you break that promise you are in for at least ten good whippings."

Answer the following questions:
1. Who shook their fist?
2. At who?
3. Was there more than one?
4. Who was he going to tell?
5. What was he going to tell about?
6. What did Dick want him to do?
7. Where did he place himself?
8. Did he threaten Mumps?
9. With what?
10. What did Larry think of the situation?
11. Did Frank want to thrash someone too?
12. Anyone else?
13. How many?
14. Did Mumps want to stick around?
15. Did he whine about it?
16. Did Dick say he would let him leave?
17. What did Tom grab?
18. What was in it?
19. Warm water?
20. What kind?
A:
1. Mumps
2. his tormentors
3. yes4
4. Captain Putnam
5. about this spread
6. keep quiet
7. between the enraged one and the door.
8. yes
9. the worst drubbing
10. This is a gentlemanly affair,
11. yes
12. yes
13. several
14. no
15. yes
16. no
17. a pitcher
18. water
19. no
20. ice water