Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Then smoke. Here are the matches. The weather is splendid now, but yesterday it was so wet that the workmen didn’t do anything all day. How much hay have you stacked ? Just think, I felt greedy and had a whole field cut, and now I’m not at all pleased about it because I’m afraid my hay may rot. I ought to have waited a bit. But what’s this ? Why, you’re in evening dress.
1. Who is speaking these words and to whom?
2. What does she offer him?
3. Find a word from the passage which means the same as ‘heaped’.
1. Natalya is speaking these words to Lomov.
2. She offers him a cigarette to smoke.
3. Stacked.
Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow:
In the first place, I’m already 35 — a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations, I’m excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling, and there’s a twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off, when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head.
1. Why is Lomov now in a hurry to get married?
2. What happens to him on account of his palpitations?
3. Find a word from the passage which means ‘emotional’.
1. Lomov is in a hurry to get married because he is already 35 years old. He suffers from health problems like palpitations.
2. On account of his palpitations he gets excited soon and is always very upset.
3. Excitable.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
We just get along somehow, my angel, thanks to your prayers, and so on. Sit down, please do... Now, you know, you shouldn’t forget all about your neighbors, my darling. My dear fellow, why are you so formal in your get-up! Evening dress, gloves, and so on. Can you be going anywhere, my treasure?
1. Who speaks these lines and to whom?
2. Do you think Chubukov means all the nice words he speaks?
3. Find a word from the passage which means the same as ‘sweetheart’
1. Chubukov speaks these lines to Lomov.
2. Not at all; he is a bit hypocritical and shows excess hospitality to Lomov.
3. Darling.
Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow:
It’s cold... I’m trembling all over, just as if I’d got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I’ll never get married. Brr... It’s cold! Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated.
1. Who is feeling cold here? Why?
2. How do people normally feel before an examination?
3. Give the meaning of the phrase ‘mind made up’.
1. Lomov is feeling cold here. He feels nervous as he has come to propose Natalya. He is not sure how she would react.
2. There is a lot of nervousness before an examination. The candidates wait with anxiety and suspense before they receive the question paper.
3. The phrase ‘mind made up’ means ‘to decide’.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Lomov: Well, you see, it’s like this. [Takes his arm] I’ve come to you, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch, to trouble you with a request. Not once or twice have I already had the privilege of applying to you for help, and you have always, so to speak... I must ask your pardon, I am getting excited. I shall drink some water, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch.[Drinks.]
Chubukov: [aside] He’s come to borrow money. Shan’t give him any! [aloud] What is it, my beauty?
1. Where has Lomov gone?
2. Why has Lomov gone there?
3. Find the word in the passage that means ‘opportunity or benefit’.
1. Lomov has gone to visit Chubukov.
2. Lomov has gone there to ask for Natalya’s hand in marriage.
3. Privilege.
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