input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER XIII

THE WESTERN EXPRESS

The old miser was very much excited and began to pace the floor of his cottage.

"Yes, I better tell the police, that's what I better do," he muttered.

"There won't be any necessity to tell the police--if it was really my brother who did it," said Sam.

"Why not, I'd like to know?" challenged Hiram Duff. "He ain't no better'n other folks."

"If he took the box, I and my family will see to it that you are repaid for your loss, Mr. Duff," answered the youngest Rover.

"Humph! Do you guarantee that?" demanded the old miser, suspiciously.

"Yes."

"And you can take his word for it, sir," added Songbird. "The Rovers are well-known and wealthy, and they will do exactly as they promise.

"I've heard that name before. Didn't you have some trouble with the railroad company?" asked Hiram Duff. "About a busted-up flying machine?"

"Yes," replied Sam.

"And got the best of that skinflint lawyer, Belright Fogg?"

"We made Mr. Fogg pay for the biplane, yes."

"I know all about it," chuckled Hiram Duff. "Served Fogg right. And he lost his job with the railroad company, too." The old man pursed up his lips. "Well, if you'll give me your word that you will settle with me I won't go to the police. But I want every cent that is coming to me, understand that."

"You'll get it--if my brother took the box," answered Sam. "But listen to me. First of all I want to find my brother. I think he ought to be under a doctor's care." 1. Who was robbed?
2. Was he a generous man?
3. Who does he suspect stole it?
4. Whose sibling is that?
5. Does Sam ask the old man to call the cops?
6. What does he assure the old man that he'll do?
7. Can they afford to repay him?
8. Who backs up his words?
9. Who have they gotten the better of in the past?
10. What's his occupation?
11. What was the issue over?
numbered_answers: 1. Hiram Duff
2. no
3. the brother
4. Rover.
5. he says it's not needed
6. If the brother stole the money the man will be repaid
7. yes
8. songbird
9. Mr. Fogg
10. lawyer
11. busted up flying machine

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. One day Magneson took a walk in the park. He passed some trees and a pond. In the pond was a duck named George. George's wife was also in the pond. Her name was Nancy.

Magneson walked over to the tree. Nancy flew up into the tree. She wanted to warn Magneson about the killer squirrel who lived inside of the tree. A few years before, the squirrel had thrown a chestnut at George and Nancy's son. He was knocked out, and the squirrel took him away. He was never seen again.

Magneson asked what their son's name was. They said it was Leonard. But Magneson was only making small talk. He didn't believe the story about the killer squirrel. Even if there was one, there were many rocks by the pond that he could throw at the squirrel. He could also hide in the tall grass.

George and Nancy were sorry to see that Magneson wouldn't listen. They flew away, singing a sad song. A short time later, the squirrel came out of the tree and threw a giant walnut at Magneson. No one ever saw Magneson again. 1. who took a walk?
2. where?
3. what did he pass?
4. who was george married to?
5. what were they?
6. how many ducks are in gerorge's family?
7. was magneson a good listener?
8. how would magneson defend himself?
9. what did nancy do for him?
10. when did the squirrel take her child?
11. what was her child called?
12. how did the ducks feel when magneson didn't heed their warning?
13. then what did they do?
14. while doing what?
15. what happened because magneson was a bad listener?
16. after what?
17. where did the squirrel live?
18. what two things did the squirrel throw?
numbered_answers: 1. Magneson
2. in the park
3. some trees and a pond
4. Nancy
5. ducks
6. Three
7. no
8. with rocks
9. warn him
10. A few years before
11. Leonard
12. sorry
13. flew away
14. singing a sad song
15. he got taken by the squirrel
16. getting a walnut thrown at him
17. inside of the tree
18. giant walnut and a chestnut

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER XXI

DICK MAKES A BOLD VENTURE

Some delicate and important work was being done, and Stuyvesant had had his lunch sent up to the dam. Bethune and Dick joined him afterwards, and sat in the shade of a big traveling crane. Stuyvesant and Dick were hot and dirty, for it was not their custom to be content with giving orders when urgent work was going on. Bethune looked languid and immaculately neat. His speciality was mathematics, and he said he did not see why the man with mental talents should dissipate his energy by using his hands.

"It's curious about that French liner," Stuyvesant presently remarked. "I understand her passengers have been waiting since yesterday and she hasn't arrived."

"The last boat cut out Santa Brigida without notice," Bethune replied. "My opinion of the French is that they're a pretty casual lot."

"On the surface. They smile and shrug where we set our teeth, but when you get down to bed-rock you don't find much difference. I thought as you do, until I went over there and saw a people that run us close for steady, intensive industry. Their small cultivators are simply great. I'd like to put them on our poorer land in the Middle West, where we're content with sixteen bushels of wheat that's most fit for chicken feed to the acre. Then what they don't know about civil engineering isn't worth learning."

Bethune made a gesture of agreement. "They're certainly fine engineers and they're putting up a pretty good fight just now, but these Latins puzzle me. Take the Iberian branch of the race, for example. We have Spanish peons here who'll stand for as much work and hardship as any Anglo-Saxon I've met. Then an educated Spaniard's hard to beat for intellectual subtlety. Chess is a game that's suited to my turn of mind, but I've been badly whipped in Santa Brigida. They've brains and application, and yet they don't progress. What's the matter with them, anyway?" 1. What was Bethune's specialty?
2. Who had his lunch sent to the dam?
3. Who joined him afterwards?
4. Who was dirty?
5. Who was not dirty?
6. Had he been working with his hands?
7. Did he want to work with his hands?
8. Was the boat they mentioned late?
9. How long were people waiting for it?
10. What nationality was in charge of that boat?
11. What does Bethune think of them?
12. Did the person who replied to Bethune agree?
13. Did they used to agree?
numbered_answers:
1. mathematics
2. Stuyvesant
3. Bethune and Dick
4. Stuyvesant and Dick
5. Bethune
6. No
7. No
8. Yes
9. since yesterday
10. French
11. they're a pretty casual lot
12. No
13. yes