Reading Comprehension and Discussion Tasks

1 Answer the following questions:

1) Where did the author decide to spend a few days one August? Why? What did the place look like?

2) Why did he think it odd he was not the only guest at the hotel? Who did he think the other guest could be?

3) What did his fellow guest look like?

4) Why did he talk so much? What did he speak about?

5) Why did they begin to speak about Mrs. Barnaby? What did the author tell his new friend about Mrs. Barnaby and her parties?

6) What did Mrs. Barnaby look like? What was she like?

7) How did Mrs. Barnaby win her place in society according to the author?

8) How did the author learn that Mrs. Barnaby was his new friend's wife?

9) What did his friend tell him about his wife? How did she become rich? What was her only desire?

10) How did she make friends with the young Duke and Duchess of Hereford? What kind of stories did she tell then? Who supplied her with interesting details?

11) What kind of man did she transform her husband into?

12) Why did she ask Mr. Barnaby to go to Paris for a week or two? Why didn't he mind it?

13) Why did she fly to Paris to see him? Why did she persuade him to hide somewhere for three months?

14) Why did the author say his friend should be proud of her? What did he think was the only course open to Mr. Barnaby? How did Mr. Barnaby like the idea?

2 Tell the story of Mrs. Barnaby. Use the words and word combinations
from the list below.

Force of character, a keen sense of humour cultivated, to leave a large fortune, to give parties, to gratify one's wish, to be at home with smb, to win one's place in society, to make a fool of, a wonderful hostess, a perfectly good wife.

Act out a dialogue between Mr. and Mrs Barnaby when the latter flew to Paris to see him.

4 Discuss the following:

1)"Why, she swam into London society in her wash-tub". "She realized the passion for romance that beats in every British heart and she's given us exactly what we want." What do you think the wash-tub has to do with the passion

for romance? What do you think society wanted? Why could she make fools of them?

2) What do you think is the author's attitude to London society?

3) Comment on the title of the story. Do you find the story dramatic or humorous?

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 2193