(1) Alan's mother
came to the gate to see him of.."Goodbye, Alan, do your best," she
called out. "I"ll try, Mummy," answered Alan, and, waving his
hand, he ran out of the gate and up the road.
Do his best ! Of
course he would. For Alan was paying in the school cricket match and was
mightily proud of being chosen to play. He had practised bowling with his fater
for weeks now, and Daddy said he was shaping well. Daddy was nearly as excited
as Alan over the match, and he promised that if Alan's side won, he would buy
him a bicycle.
(1) Why did Alan's mother come ?
(2)
How did Alan reach up to the road ?
(3)
Find out the similar word for 'to
farewell.'
(4)
Why was Alan feeling proud ?
(5)
How can you say that Alan was shaping
well ?
(6)
Why was Alan's Father excited over
the match ?
(7) What would Alan get if his side won ?
(8)
Find out the similar words for 'to
show good performance'
and 'eager'.
(9)
Find out the similar word for 'very
much'
(10)
Here the words 'Alan's side'
means............
(2) On his way
to the sports-ground Alan had to pass the little three-cornered meadow, and as
he reached it, he saw a very old man leaning heavily on his stick. As Alan
passed, the old man called out to him.
"Can
I help you ?" asked Alan kindly, going up to him.
The old
man, in a thin, cracked voice requested Alan to let him take his arm. He said,
"This road is so hilly, and the wind is almost too much for me."
"I would love to help you, sir,
"said Alan, for he knew he could easily make up what time he had lost by running
when he left the old man.
(1) What fell on Alan's way to the sports
ground ?
(2) How was the meadow ?
(3) Whom did Alan see ?
(4) Why did the old man call out to Alan ?
(5) Was the old man passing through the meadow
?
(6) Find out the similar words for 'came
across, a field filled with grass and bending.'
(7)
How did the old man request Alan ?
For what ?
(8)
Describe the road.
(9)
Find out the similar word for
'compensate.'
(10)
Was Alan ready to help the old man ?
(11)
What was Alan's planning in helping the
old man ?
(3) But the
poor old gentleman leaned heavily on Alan's sturdy little arm and tottered
along like a baby. So slowly did he walk that five minutes had gone before they
were half-way up the road.
Alan explained to the old man that he
was on his way to a cricket-match and that he must not be late, but he seemed
not to hear him.
"Where do you live, sir?" called
Alan at last in the old man's ear.
"Up the road and some way round
the corner." he answered in his thin, weak voice. "I should be so
much obliged if you could see me home. You look a very kind little boy."
(1)
What was the condition of the poor old man when Alan took his hand ?
(2)
How much time did it take to reach the half way ?
(3)
Find out the similar for 'walk with unsteady steps' 'strong' and 'passed.'
(4)
Find out the opposite to 'weak'....
(5)
What did Alan explain to the old man ?
(6)
Was the old man hearing to Alan ?
(7)
Where did the old man live ?
(8)
What was the old man's request to Alan ?
(9)
Find out the sentence which shows Alan's praise.
(10)
Find out the similar for 'grateful', 'looked' and 'generous.'
(4) See him home ? And they were still a
long way off ! If only he could walk a little faster. Why, the teams would be
already on the field, and the captain would be wondering why he did not come.
Suddenly the old man stumbled over a loose paving
stone, and fell heavily on the ground.
"Don't leave me, little boy," murmured the
old man.
"No, I will stay here," said Alan, and he
sat down beside him, for he felt sure that someone would come that way soon.
Alan stared anxiously up and down the road during the
minutes that followed. The minutes almost seemed like hours. Then, at last,
turning the corner came a jolly-looking policeman. Alan could have shouted for
joy.
"I'll see this gentleman home, little boy,"
the policeman said, after Alan explained what had happened.
(1) Why was Alan worried ?
(2) Why would the captain be
wondering ?
(3) Find out the similar words for
'leave somebody at', 'very far' and 'worrying.'
(4) What happened to the old man ?
(5) What did the old man murmur ?
(6) What did Alan promise to the old
man ?
(7) Why did Alan and the old man sit
by the road ?
(8) How did Alan pass the time that
followed ?
(9) How did minutes seem to Alan ?
(10) Who came to Alan ?
(11) Did Alan shout out of joy when
he saw the policeman ?
(12) Find out the similar words for
'gaze' and 'cheerful.'
(13) Find out the opposite to
'sorrow' and 'unlike.'
(14) Why did the policeman promise
Alan to see the old man home ?
(5) Then Alan ran off and flew as fast as
his legs would carry him to the sports ground. But the game has started when he
arrived. "Why, it's Alan," said the teacher, who was standing just
inside the entrance. "you're not much good if you can't come up to time.
We have put in young Harold Banks in your place. Fortunately, he's putting some
good balls over." Alan bit his lip. How could he explain? He turned away
and made his way slowly home. His father opened the door. "Bravo,
Alan," he said, patting his little son on the back. "But,
Daddy....." began Alan. But his father interrupted him.
(1) How did Alan reach the sports
ground?
(2) What happened when he reached the
sports ground?
(3) Where was the teacher standing?
What did he say to Alan?
(4) Who was taken in place of Alan?
(5) How was Harold Bank's
performance?
(6) How did Alan react at the
teacher's remark?
(7) What did Alan do ?
(8) How did Alan's father welcome him
?
(9) Find out the similar words for
'begin', 'luckily' 'in place of' and 'disturbed.'
(10) Find out the opposite word to
'exit.'
(11) Give the meaning of 'make one's
way' and use in your own sentence.
(6)
It's all right. It was the old
man," he said, "You see, I came up behind that policeman and he told
me what had happened. So I knew you were playing the game although it wasn't on
the cricket-pitch. So I went back to the market-place and ought the bicycle I
promised you. It's a beauty. And, Alan, we're proud of you, your Mother and I."
And in the classroom next morning, the boys gave Alan three loud
cheers, as only schoolboys can, for in some mysterious fashion they too had
learned all about his kind act.
(1)
Who told everything about Alan's kind act to his father ?
(2)
How was Alan rewarded at home and school ?
(3)
Why were Alan's parents proud of him ?
(4)
How did the school boys learn all about his kind act ?
(5)
Find out the similar words for 'occur', 'bazaar' and 'suspicious.'
(6)
Find out the opposite to 'cruel.'