question: The grandfather of Nell Trent owns a shop of odds and ends. He wants to make sure his grandfather is provided for when he dies. His memory of his daughter's suffering and early death gives him a fear of poverty. Gambling becomes an addiction for Nell's grandfather, which results in his financial and physical ruin. Nell and her grandfather flee from their home and begin a journey that has no destination. For Nell, all she wants is a peaceful existence with enough to live on.

They come across many interesting people on their travels and often meet with the kindness of strangers. Yet, in a colorful world, they also face the reality of the Industrial Revolution. From simple villages and fields of flowers, they go into a dirty city full of mass unemployment and plague victims --- where children die of starvation and many are abandoned.

The story isn't only about Nell and her grandfather, but also the people who are connected to them directly or indirectly. There is Richard Swiveller, a careless young man who is a friend of Nell's older brother, who wants Swiveller to marry Nell for the fortune he thinks she has. Daniel Quilp is a cruel moneylender, who manages to fool the grandfather into borrowing large sums of money from him. There is honest Kit, a boy employed at the shop, who becomes a victim even though he never harms other people. Kit desires to help Nell, whom he considers an angel that has always inspired the best in him. The mysterious Bevis Marks, who is a generous customer to some people and an enemy to others, also has his own reasons for looking after Nell and her grandfather.

Unlike Dickens' other works, The Old Curiosity Shop is a book of contrasts: the purity of Nell compared to the dishonesty of Quilp, fresh air and scenic villages to the polluted, stone-covered city, etc. Even people's reaction to the book presented a cruel contrast. At first, Nell Trent was praised and considered Dickens' best character. Later, she was criticized by many well-known people like Oscar Wilde. While characters in Dickens' other books are moving towards a better future, Nell and her grandfather are fleeing for their life and their story is moving towards a sad ending.
1. Who owns a shop?
2. whose?
3. Did they meet many people?
4. What is the time period?
5. Is the story only about them?
6. Who else is it about?
7. Only close relatives?
8. Like whom?
9. Who was he?
10. What he wanted?
11. Who is the author?
12. What is the name of this novel?
13. Do some people disagree with the concept?
14. Did any famous author disagree?
15. Like who?
16. Is this novel different from author's other books?
17. Did the main characters stay home?
18. Where did they go?
19. Is there any mysterious character?
20. Who?
21. Was he good with the main characters?
****
answer: 1. grandfather
2. Nell Trent
3. yes
4. Industrial Revolution
5. no
6. people who connected to them
7. indirectly
8. Richard Swiveller
9. a friend of Nell's older brother
10. marry Nell
11. Dickens
12. The Old Curiosity Shop
13. presented a cruel contrast
14. yes
15. Oscar Wilde
16. yes
17. no
18. no definite destination.
19. yes
20. Bevis Marks
21. yes

question: CHAPTER XI

A WORD OF WARNING

"In the most unlikely places!" Duncombe murmured to himself as he bowed to the Frenchman, whose name his friend had mentioned. "I am very glad to meet you again, Monsieur le Baron!" he said, aloud.

They were in the covered garden at the Ritz. Duncombe had accepted the pressing invitation of an old college friend, whom he had met on the boulevards to drop in and be introduced to his wife. And the third at the tea-table was Monsieur Louis, known in society apparently as Monsieur le Baron de Seurs.

Lady Hadley, his friend's wife, smiled languidly upon them both. She was a frail pink and white little woman, with the reputation of a beauty to sustain, wherein lay her life's work.

"You two know one another, of course!" she remarked. "Paris is no larger than London, after all."

"Sir George and I have met once at least," the Baron said, smiling. "I am glad that he does me the honor of remembering the occasion."

Duncombe felt himself no match for his companion with the foils. He let the conversation drift, and waited for his opportunity. Presently some more guests arrived, and Duncombe drew his host on one side.

"Hadley," he said, "how long have you known the Baron?"

"Met him at Dorset House about two years ago, I think," Hadley answered. "He was doing a round of country-houses. I'm not sure that he didn't stay at Sandringham. One of the real old French families, you know, De Seurs."
1. Who did Duncombe meet?
2. What was his name?
3. Where were they?
4. Where was the garden?
5. Who had invited everyone?
6. Was the pal married?
7. What was his wife's name?
8. What was Mister Louis known as?
9. Where was he sitting?
10. Who did Duncombe pull aside?
11. Who was that?
12. Why did he pull him aside?
13. How long had he?
14. Where had they met?
****
answer: 1. a Frenchman
2. Monsieur le Baron
3. in the covered garden
4. at the Ritz
5. an old college friend
6. yes
7. Lady Hadley
8. kMonsieur le Baron de Seurs.
9. at the tea-table
10. his host
11. Hadley
12. to ask him how long he has known the Baron
13. about two years ago,
14. at Dorset House

question: Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea says it plans to prosecute two American tourists that it detained earlier this year, accusing them of "perpetrating hostile acts."

The North Korean government had previously said it was holding the two U.S. citizens, Jeffrey Fowle and Matthew Miller, but hadn't said what it planned to do with them.

"According to the results of the investigation, suspicions about their hostile acts have been confirmed by evidence and their testimonies," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday.

"The relevant organ of the DPRK is carrying on the investigation into them and making preparations for bringing them before court on the basis of the already confirmed charges," the report said, using using an abbreviation of the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The U.S. State Department called on North Korea to release the two men on humanitarian grounds.

Asylum bid?

North Korea said in late April that it had taken Miller into custody, claiming he had come to the country seeking asylum and had torn up his tourist visa.

It announced the detention of Fowle in early June, saying he had violated the law by acting "contrary to the purpose of tourism."

It didn't provide details at the time on what exactly he was accused of doing. But the Japanese news agency Kyodo cited unidentified diplomatic sources as saying that Fowle was part of a tour group and that he was detained in mid-May after allegedly leaving a Bible in a hotel where he had been staying.
1. Were there visitors?
2. What happened to them?
3. How?
4. When did it happen?
5. Who arrested them?
6. Was one of the visitors religious?
7. What nationality were they?
8. What does DPRK mean?
9. Was there any reason for the arrest?
10. What did they go by?
****
answer:
1. yes
2. they were detained
3. for"perpetrating hostile acts."
4. one was in late April
5. North Korea
6. yes
7. American
8. Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
9. acting "contrary to the purpose of tourism."
10. unknown