I Find the proof of the following. Underline the key word or words that help

you to prove your point.

1 One had to be very observant to perceive that the scorpion was not wearing a fur coat.

2 The narrator decided he would take the scorpions home secretly.

3 The boy handled the scorpions with very great care and consideration.

4 If only he could have gone to his bedroom before lunch, nothing would have happened.

5 The narrator was not supposed to feed the dog.

6 The narrator suggests that he did not believe all that his brother was saying.

7 The scorpion was only too please to get out.

8 The boy’s attention was caught by other things.

9 The narrator felt that the scorpion was rather unlucky.

10 Margo thought she could drown the animal.

II Tick the right answer.

1 The scorpion appeared to be wearing a fur coat because … .

a) the female’s fur protected the babies;

b) female scorpions always wear fur coats;

c) in winter, the scorpions are covered with fur;

d) being covered with baby scorpions, the mother’s back looked furry

2 The boy wished to capture the female scorpion and its babies to …

a) have an unusual pet; c) pretend he was a smuggler;

b) study their development; d) play a practical joke on the family

3 He put the box carefully on the mantelpiece, indeed he … .

a) was afraid to hurt the babies;

b) didn’t want to be stung by the insects;

c) thought the box would be out of reach there;

d) believed that under the circumstances it was the most appropriate place

4 The reason why baby scorpions were ‘clinging on desperately’ was that …

a) they wanted to sting Larry;

b) they had an instinctive sense of danger;

c) they weren’t happy to have been locked up;

d) they couldn’t understand why their mother was scuttling about

5 The female scorpion was ‘scattering babies like confetti’, indeed… .

a) the family were celebrating Leslie’s wedding;

b) the babies were the size and lightness of confetti;

c) they seemed trivial and unimportant, like confetti;

d) the female scorpion wished to contribute to the gaiety

6 “Margo let out a scream that any railway engine would have been proud to produce” means that … .

a) Margo was proud of her shrill voice;

b) the action takes place at a railway station;

c) she wanted to scare off the scorpion by shouting loudly;

d) her yell was as piercing and the whistle of a steam engine

III Decide whether the following statements are True or False and

justify your answers.

1 The writer was absolutely delighted when he found the scorpions.

T

F

2 Before lunch, he put the scorpions on the mantelpiece in the dining-room.

T

F

3 The narrator was not hungry.

T

F

4 Roger was one of the servants.

T

F

5 The author is sure the scorpion wanted to attack Larry as soon as the latter opened the box.

T

F

6 When the scorpion was sent rolling down the table, the boy felt sorry for her.

T

F

7 When Larry flicked his hand, the scorpion fell halfway between Margo and Mother.

T

F