LA WEB DE READING COMPREHENSION PREFERIDA POR LOS HISPANOHABLANTES

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THE SINGING LESSON - ACTIVITIES

Katherine Mansfield

If you are an educator the
activities below can help you
spice up your English class.
Enjoy them!!

 

A.

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.

1.

Why didn't Miss Meadows like the Science Mistress?

2.

'Had she noticed anything?' What might the Science Mistress have noticed?

3.

How did Miss Meadows behave when Mary Beazley offered her the chrysanthemum?

4.

How did Mary expect her to behave?

5.

What was the effect of her behaviour on the girls?

6.

What kind of man do you think Basil was? Give reasons for your answer.

7.

Why did the headmistress stop speaking kindly to Miss Meadows?

8.

How did Miss Meadows show her change of feelings after she had read the telegram?

B.

FIND EXPRESSIONS IN THE STORY WITH THE SAME MEANING AS THOSE BELOW:

1.

with pink cheeks [from the fresh air outside]

2.

looked fixedly and with dislike

3.

she looked from side to side of the class

4.

getting married and setting up house

5.

(She) walked stiffly

6.

What strange motive had he for writing?

7.

as if he had said

8.

they were no longer engaged

9.

(I) behaved as if I were mad

10.

Good news is never urgent

C.

USE THE MOST SUITABLE OF THESE EXPRESSIONS IN A PROPER POSITION IN EACH OF THE SENTENCES BELOW, INSTEAD OF THE WORDS IN ITALICS: awfully, definitely, fussily, grimly, lightly, more and more strongly, perfectly well, positively, quietly, sharply.

1.

Miss Meadows turned with a sudden movement.

2.

She knew exactly what they were thinking.

3.

I feel more certain as time goes on that our marriage would be a mistake.

4.

The young girls began to feel really frightened.

5.

A little girl in blue walked up the aisle in an awkward manner.

6.

'It is rather sharp,' said Miss Meadows in a severe voice.

7.

The word 'disgust' was scratched out, but not heavily enough.

8.

'Dre-ear!' said she in a frightening voice.

9.

The engagement was broken off without any doubt.

10.

I shall put you on your honour to talk while I am away without making a lot of noise.

D.

COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES WITH SUITABLE PREPOSITIONS OR ADVERBS.

1.

Their voices bubbled ... excitement.

2.

Girls of all ages hurried ...

3.

The idea ... settling down fills me ... disgust.

4.

The word 'disgust' was scratched ... in the text.

5.

Instead ... taking ... the flower, she ignored it.

6.

It came out ... nothing.

7.

What could have led ... to it?

8.

You can slow ... as much as you like on the last line.

9.

... came Mary's hands on the opening chord.

10.

Her hand flew ... to take the telegram.

E.

IMAGINE THAT THE FUSSY LITTLE GIRL IN BLUE HAD LISTENED TO THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION AND THAT SHE IS TELLING SOMEONE ELSE WHAT SHE HEARD. BEGIN WITH "MISS WYATT ASKED..." AND USE ASKED, SAID AND ANSWERED WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

-

Please sit down, Miss Meadows. I sent for you because a telegram has come for you.

-

You have a telegram for me, Miss Wyatt?

-

Yes, I have. I hope it's not bad news. I do hope it's nothing very serious.

-

It isn't anything serious. It's nothing bad at all. It's from my fiancé.

-

I don't approve of my teachers having telegrams sent to them in school hours, unless there is bad news. Good news will keep.

F.

SUBJECTS FOR COMPOSITION AND DISCUSSION:

1.

'Miss Meadows and Basil would probably be unhappy if they married.' Say whether you think the story suggests this. Give reasons for your opinion.

2.

Which of the writer's qualities of 'tender humanity, clarity, wit and courageous gaiety' are shown in this story?

3.

The effect of this story depends a good deal on contrasts. Mention what contrasts you have noticed in it.

 

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