Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
CHAPTER XXIII--THE CANKERED OAK GALL

That Walter was no fool, though that him list To change his wif, for it was for the best; For she is fairer, so they demen all, Than his Griselde, and more tendre of age.

CHAUCER, The Clerke's Tale.

It was on an early autumn evening when the belfry stood out beautiful against the sunset sky, and the storks with their young fledglings were wheeling homewards to their nest on the roof, that Leonard was lying on the deep oriel window of the guest-chamber, and Grisell sat opposite to him with a lace pillow on her lap, weaving after the pattern of Wilton for a Church vestment.

"The storks fly home," he said. "I marvel whether we have still a home in England, or ever shall have one!"

"I heard tell that the new King of France is friendly to the Queen and her son," said Grisell.

"He is near of kin to them, but he must keep terms with this old Duke who sheltered him so long. Still, when he is firm fixed on his throne he may yet bring home our brave young Prince and set the blessed King on his throne once more."

"Ah! You love the King."

"I revere him as a saint, and feel as though I drew my sword in a holy cause when I fight for him," said Leonard, raising himself with glittering eyes.

"And the Queen?"

"Queen Margaret! Ah! by my troth she is a dame who makes swords fly out of their scabbards by her brave stirring words and her noble mien. Her bright eyes and undaunted courage fire each man's heart in her cause till there is nothing he would not do or dare, ay, or give up for her, and those she loves better than herself, her husband, and her son."
1. What time of year is it?
2. Where are they?
3. Where in the chamber?
4. Who is nice to the royalty?
5. Who needs to be brought back?
6. What are their feelings towards the new leader?
7. And the female?
8. Where do they hope to still have a home?
9. What is she holding?
10. What animal are they watching in the air?

Numbered answers:
1. Autumn
2. A guest-chamber
3. in the window
4. The King ofFrance
5. the Prince
6. they love him
7. She is a dame
8. England
9. a pillow
10. storke

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
The city of Yangzhou came into being at the Spring and Autumn Period ( about 500 AC ). As the key transportation link at joint place of the Great Canal ( Beijing-Hangzhou) and Changjiang (Yangtze River), Yangzhou has been from the Sui Dynasty (600 AD.) an economically rich city, and then reached its top in the Tang Dynasty. At that time Yangzhou was a famous port and one of few biggest cities in East Asia. With the improvement of the local economy and easy transportation way, there happened in the history a special local culture, which has an important place in Chinese culture. Many famous men of letters, poets, artists, scholars , statesmen, scientists and national heroes in the history were born in, lived in or had connection with Yangzhou. Li Bai, one of the greatest Chinese poets visited and stayed in Yangzhou several times in his life and one of his famous poems about Yangzhou has been so popular that Chinese of all ages can sing it and has become a symbol of Yangzhou . Zheng Banqiao, a famous Chinese painting painter in the Qing Dynasty heading a group called "Eight Eccentrics", had strongly influenced Chinese paintings. Wang Zhong and Yuan Yuan and some other scholars formed school of Yangzhou Scholars and achieved great success in the study of classic Chinese and writing. Zhu Ziqing, one of most famous modern Chinese writers and scholars, had always been proud of himself as a native of Yangzhou and thanked the city for being nourished by its rich culture. Quite a few other names you may come across frequently in the study of Chinese culture and history have connection with Yangzhou . Yangzhou was so attractive and important that many Chinese emperors in history had come specially to visit or check the city. Emperor Suiyang, who ordered to cut the Great Canal so that he could come more easily and quickly, died on his last trip to the city and buried here. Emperor Qianlong had come all the way from the north and visited the city nine times.
1. What part of Asia is Yangzhou in?
2. Who was one of the greatest Chinese poets to visit there?
3. Who was Zheng Banqiao?
4. When did Yangzhou come into being?
5. What group did Zheng Banqiao head?
6. Who started the school of Yangzhou Scholars?
7. What did they study?
8. Which Emperor died on his last trip the the city?
9. Did Qianlong visit the city 10 times?
10. How many times did he visit?
11. Where did he come from?
12. What Dynasty is Yangzhou from?
13. What Dynasty did it reach it's peak, or top, in?

Numbered answers:
1. East Asia
2. Li Bai
3. a painter
4. at the Spring and Autumn Period
5. Eight Eccentrics
6. Wang Zhong and Yuan Yuan and some other scholars
7. classic Chinese and writing
8. Suiyang
9. no
10. nine
11. the north
12. the Sui Dynasty
13. the Tang Dynasty

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A TELEGRAM

"November is the most disagreeable month in the whole year," said Margaret, standing at the window one dull afternoon, looking out at the frostbitten garden.

"That's the reason I was born in it," observed Jo pensively, quite unconscious of the blot on her nose.

"If something very pleasant should happen now, we should think it a delightful month," said Beth, who took a hopeful view of everything, even November.

"I dare say, but nothing pleasant ever does happen in this family," said Meg, who was out of sorts. "We go grubbing along day after day, without a bit of change, and very little fun. We might as well be in a treadmill."

"My patience, how blue we are!" cried Jo. "I don't much wonder, poor dear, for you see other girls having splendid times, while you grind, grind, year in and year out. Oh, don't I wish I could manage things for you as I do for my heroines! You're pretty enough and good enough already, so I'd have some rich relation leave you a fortune unexpectedly. Then you'd dash out as an heiress, scorn everyone who has slighted you, go abroad, and come home my Lady Something in a blaze of splendor and elegance."

"People don't have fortunes left them in that style nowadays, men have to work and women marry for money. It's a dreadfully unjust world," said Meg bitterly.

"Jo and I are going to make fortunes for you all. Just wait ten years, and see if we don't," said Amy, who sat in a corner making mud pies, as Hannah called her little clay models of birds, fruit, and faces.
1. who hat a blot on her nose?
2. what month is it?
3. who was born in that month?
4. who was making pies?
5. what did she say she was going to make?
6. with who?
7. who had a hopeful view of everything?
8. did Meg think that pleasant things always happen to the family?
9. what did she say they might as well be in?
10. who did she think has to work?
11. what did she think women should do?
12. do people have fortunes left to them anymore?
13. who wanted a fortune left to her friends?
14. where was Margaret standing?
15. what was she looking at?
Numbered answers:
1. Jo
2. November
3. Jo
4. Amy
5. fortunes
6. Jo
7. Beth
8. no
9. a treadmill
10. men
11. marry for money
12. No
13. unknown
14. at the window
15. the frostbitten garden