Question: Two brothers, Herbert and James, lived with their mother and a cat named Edgar. James was particularly devoted to the cat, and when he had to leave town for several days, he left Herbert careful instructions about the pet's care. At the end of his first day away, James telephoned his brother, "How is Edgar?"

"Edgar is dead." Herbert answered. There was a pause. Then James said, "Herbert, you're insensitive . You know how close I was to Edgar. You should have broken the news to me slowly. When I asked about Edgar tonight, you should have said, 'Edgar's on the roof , but I have called the fire department to get him down.' And tomorrow when I called, you could have said the firemen were having trouble getting Edgar down, but you were hopeful they would succeed. Then when I called the third time, you could have told me that the firemen have done their best, but unfortunately Edgar had fallen off the roof and was at the veterinarian's . Then when I called the last time, you could have said that although everything possible had been done for Edgar, he had died. That's the way a sensitive man would have told me about Edgar. And, oh, before I forget," James added, "how is mother?"

"Oh," Herbert said, pausing for a moment, "She's on the roof." 1. What creature is Edgar?
2. What does Herbert first tell his brother about Edgar?
3. Who especially cared for Edgar?
4. How long did James wait until he first called his brother about Edgar?
5. True or False: James thinks Edgar is a tactful person.
6. What does James say Herbert should have told him at the first call?
7. And that Herbert had called whom?
8. And what did James wish to hear his brother say tomorrow?
9. And at the third call?
10. And the last call?
11. What did James almost forget to ask?
12. Where does Herbert say she is?
13. Does he probably say this to "break news slowly?"
14. With whom do Herbert and James live?
15. For how long did James have to leave?
16. True or False: James did not tell Herbert how to care for Edgar.
17. What kind of directions did James leave?
18. By what means did James contact his brother? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. cat
2. he is dead
3. james
4. same day
5. false
6. he's on the roof
7. the fire department
8. the firemen were trying to get him down
9. Edgar fell off the rof
10. he died
11. about their mother
12. on the roof
13. yes
14. their mother and a cat
15. several days
16. false.
17. careful ones
18. telephone

Question: One morning a girl named Ashely woke up before her Mom and Dad and started watching TV. Once her parents woke up, everybody got dressed to go food shopping for the week. Food shopping was one of Ashley's favorite things to do. The family got to the grocery store and grabbed a shopping cart. The first foods they ran into were the fruits. Ashley ran to pick her favorite fruit, apples, while her parents went and got other things that they needed, like the sour lemons. As the family kept walking through the grocery store Ashley begged for some candy that she saw, but the other things her parents bought were eggs, milk and bread. After all of the food was picked out, the family went up to the check-out line to pay for their food. Ashley never liked the check-out line, as it always took too long, but today was different. The checkout lady, Sarah, was extra nice to her and as she was waiting for her parents to pay, Ashley's father picked out a candy for her to have. It was her favorite, chocolate! Ashley was so excited that she thanked her parents the whole ride home, and even said she would make breakfast. When the family got home that afternoon and the food was in the house, the whole family made their lunch of eggs and toast together. 1. When did Ashely wake up?
2. When did she get dressed?
3. Where did they go then?
4. What is one of her favorite things to do?
5. What did she beg for at the store?
6. What did her parents buy instead?
7. Why didn't she like the check out line?
8. Who was quite friendly to her when they were checking out?
9. What did her dad pick out for her?
10. and what was it made of? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. before her Mom and Dad and started watching TV
2. Once her parents woke up
3. to the grocery store
4. Food shopping
5. candy
6. eggs, milk and bread
7. it always took too long
8. The checkout lady, Sarah
9. a candy for her
10. chocolate

Question: After two weeks, Ling Qinghao finally sent a message to his wife in their hometown in Anhui, and told her her he was safe. Ling, 44, was a Chinese construction worker who went to Libya. The recent problems in Libya have left the country in disorder. Several Chinese were injured last month. Ling was one of the thousands of Chinese evacuees from Libya. The evacuee's first stop was Greece. They are staying there in a five-star hotel that the Chinese government paid for. According to the Foreign Ministry, by March 2, China has evacuated a total of 35,860 Chinese from Libya. Among them, 20745 have already returned to China. To evacuate means to quickly move people away from a disaster or disorder. An evacuation tests how a nation would deal with an emergency . From getting flight tickets to dealing with customs services , many parts of the government and companies have to work together. To protect the safety of overseas Chinese, China took action quickly. Since February 24, the nation has sent out airplanes and ships to evacuate its people from Libya.They even sent a navy ship to help. This is the first time that China has sent the army in an evacuation. "We have done a great job in no more than 10 days. This shows China's ability to protect its people overseas in emergencies," Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao said. 1. How long did it take for him to message his wife?
2. Where did they live?
3. How old was he? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. After two weeks
2. Libya
3. 44