1

Short Stories The Umbrella Man Dahl Roald

Student: López DeborahTeacher: Licenciada Maria Angelica SantacruzInstitution: ISFD Paulo FreireSubject: Language and Culture IDate: April 29 th

1

Assessment `The umbrella man´

Author´s context

Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Cardiff in 1916 and died in 1990. He was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent. Dahl rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors. He has been referred to as `one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century´. In 2008 The Times placed Dahl sixteenth on their list of `The 50 greatest British writers since 1945´. His short stories are known for their unexpected endings, and his children's books for their unsentimental, often very dark humour. Some of his better-known works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The Witches, and The Big Friendly Giant. Not surprisingly, a major part of Dahl's literary influences stemmed from his childhood. In his younger days, he was an avid reader, especially awed by fantastic tales of heroism and triumph.Dahl's children's works are usually told from the point of view of a child. They typically involve adult villains who hate and mistreat children, and feature at least one `good´ adult to counteract the villains. These stock characters are possibly a reference to the abuse that Dahl experienced in the boarding schools he attended. They usually contain a lot of black humour and grotesque scenarios, including gruesome violence. The Witches, George's Marvellous Medicine and Matilda are examples of this formula. Dahl always maintained that his mother and her stories had a strong influence on his writing.

1

Characters

Main characters A girl (twelve years old) The girl´s mother (thirty years old) The umbrella man (seventy years old)

Secondary characters There aren´t

Setting This story takes place in London. However, the different characters´ actions happen in different settings. First, we have a café, then the street and finally a pub.

First Conflict The girl and her mother were in a café and when they left, it was raining quite hard. They were wearing ordinary clothes and they didn´t have an umbrella so they needed to get a taxi to get home. There were lots of them but the problem was that they all had passengers inside. Suddenly, when they were waiting for in the street, totally cold and soaked, a man came to them and spoke in a very polite way asking the woman for a small favour. The woman looked at him suspiciously but he went on talking, offering her his umbrella so that she and the girl could protect themselves under it, just if she gave him in return a pound to get a taxi to get home as he was too tired to walk.

Attempt to find solution to the first conflict The woman wanted to accept the offer, but her daughter had given her a cold look telling that it was not correct to take advantage of an old man as the umbrella had cost him more than what he was asking for. The woman offered the man to give him the money without taking the umbrella. However, the man didn´t want to accept her offer so he exchanged his umbrella for the pound note, he thanked the woman and he left. The girl and the woman were happy as they could protect themselves from the raindrops.

1

Second conflict The man didn´t get a taxi. Instead, he started to run to somewhere not looking as tired as he had said.

Attempt to find solution to the second conflict The woman decided to follow the man. He entered a pub and the woman and the girl watched him from outside, through the window. The man asked the barman for a whisky and then he paid him with the pound the woman had given to him. When he finished his drink, he went to the coat-rack and took his hat and coat but also one of the umbrellas that were hanging there. Nobody noticed it, except for the girl and the woman.Then the man left the pub and went to the same place he had met them before.

Conclusion The man went to different pubs, he drank a glass of whisky and then he took an umbrella that didn´t belong to him and lied to people saying that he always went for a walk and that day he was too tired to walk home, so he needed to get a taxi. The problem was that he had forgotten his wallet and he had no money to pay for the taxi-fare, so he offered his umbrella for a pound to get a taxi to get home, no matter how much the umbrella had cost. But he only played a trick on people to get a drink.

Another thing that I have concluded is that at the beginning , when the man came to the woman and spoke asking her for a favour, the woman was suspicious, but then she was happy that she had helped the old man and told her daughter that you never have to rush things. You always have to take your time when you are summing someone up so then you will never make mistakes. I think that the author was also trying to say that physical appearances can be deceptive. It means that people or things are not always the way they look. The man seemed to be a nice person but he was a trickster, so judging by

1

appearances is not right. You can make a mistake and feel disappointed even if you took your time to judge a person or even if you know him/her from a long time.

Another important thing that I would like to talk about is an interesting topic that is developed in the story: alcoholism. It is interesting the way that the author deals with the man´s addictive disorder. He shows us a kind of alcoholic addict as we all know there are lots of kinds. We know that people who have this strong desire to drink alcohol all the time, are able to do anything just to get what they want. As they have no control of themselves, they can be aggressive and hurt people not only physically but also verbally. However, in this story we have this man who is desperate to drink a treble-whisky but he has control of himself, he is not an aggressive person, he can be polite and gentle in order to get what he want, he is calm and patient, he deals with his addiction in a different way from what we are used to. And also the author shows a kind of humour when he makes us imagine this woman following the man as something that we know is so unlikely to happen that is funny. The story is also describing something that happens all the time in life. I mean, that it is probably that in the context the story is written, people used to steal and lie to others, but in a very unnoticed way , totally different nowadays, that things that happen are so horrible and we are so conscious of them because of the media, that we are afraid all the time and the only place we feel secure and safe is at our home and not even that. This kind of unpleasant things have always happened, but they were not as visible as they are now and what the author does is to give humour to this unpleasant things, through this crazy woman who takes the risk of following a man that she doesn´t know and that has stolen her and probably can hurt her because he is an

1

alcoholic and he would do anything to get what he wants. The author shows us the impotence and the anger that we feel when these things happen and that we are not able to do something to help or stop it from happening.

The author is known because of his short stories with unexpected endings, and his children's books for their unsentimental, often very dark humour. We can see this through the story.

Summary

There was a girl and her mother. They went to a café after seeing the dentist and when they left the café, it was raining very hard. They needed to get a taxi to get home and lots of them came by but they all had passengers inside. The woman and the girl, frozen and soaked, were waiting for a taxi on the pavement when suddenly, a man came to them. He was an old man, he was probably seventy years old, and he seemed to be a nice person, he was polite, well-spoken and well-dressed. He asked the woman a small favour in a very polite way. The woman, who was a very suspicious person, stared at him, being very cool and distant. She believed that the man was a trickster so she was being very careful. She asked him what he wanted and he explained to her that he always went for a walk and took a taxi to get home as he was too tired to walk, but that day he had forgotten his wallet so he couldn´t pay for the taxi-fare. So the man offered her his umbrella, which had cost him twenty pounds, in exchange for only a pound to pay for the taxi and get home and rest. The woman doubted his word and asked him a lot of questions to satisfy herself that he wasn´t lying. Finally she decided to accept his offer. But her daughter, who had never talked, gave her mother a frosty look saying that it was not right to take advantage of the old man because the umbrella had cost him more than what he was asking for. So the woman suggested

1

giving the man the pound note without taking the umbrella as it was not correct but just because of her daughter. The man didn´t agree, he believed it was not fair so he insisted on his offer. The woman smiled and felt happy as she wanted to keep the umbrella with her not only because it was a nice silk umbrella but also because it was going to protect her and her daughter from the rain. She took the umbrella and gave the man the pound note, he thanked her and then left. The woman was really happy because she had never had a silk umbrella before as she couldn´t afford it and she was glad that she had helped this old man. They were protecting themselves form the rain under the umbrella but all her happiness disappeared when they saw the man running very fast. He didn´t look very tired as he had said and he wasn´t trying to get a taxi. He was totally in a hurry. The woman felt worried enough to decide to follow him and see what was happening. The man entered a pub but they didn´t go in, and instead they stood outside watching him through the window. Inside, the man went to the bar and gave his order. The barman brought him a glass of whisky, a treble whisky and he paid for it with the pound the woman had given to him. At first, the woman and the girl didn´t understand anything because the drink had cost the man not only a pound but twenty pounds because of the umbrella that he had lost. So they stood there, watching the man finishing his drink. When he finished, he went to the coat-rack to take his coat and his hat and he stole one of the umbrellas that were hanging there and that belonged to the people in the pub. Nobody noticed it so he left the bar without any problems. Outside, he never saw the woman and the girl. They were there, watching him very surprised and angry because of the man´s trick. They followed him again to prove his game. The man went to the place where he had met them before and decided to ask his small favour to a thin fellow who had no coat or umbrella and was freezing in the rain. He exchanged his umbrella again for

1

another pound note so he could drink another glass of whisky. And as the transaction was complete, he started to walk very fast to go to a different pub. The woman and the girl couldn´t believe it and the woman felt impotent that she didn´t have enough power to take control of the situation and advice people about ignoring this man.There was nothing they could do except for praying like mad for sunny days.

Girl

Actions -She is the narrator, she tells the story.-She observes the scene without talking too much, without interacting with the man but with her mother.-She gives her mother a frosty look during the conversation between the woman and the man when she considers her mum is being rude and impolite but she never speaks.-She never decides anything. Her mother takes the decisions and she follows her on her plan. She observes the man in the pub. She sometimes says something referred to the man but she doesn´t even feel angry or impotent that the man lied to her mother and that she can´t help other people to stop him doing this.

Role She has a passive role. She accepts the things that happen and the decisions that her mother makes without taking any action or position. She doesn´t interact with the man but with her mother. She only tells us the story but without showing us anger or impotence as describing what happens.This is probably because she is a young girl. However, she understands what happens. Sometimes when we are young we don´t understand some kind of situations in life and sometimes although we understand them, we don´t do anything just because we are children and the adults are the ones that solve problems and handle

1

difficult situations.

The woman

Actions -She talks to the man and interacts with him and also with her daughter. -She gives the pound to the man taking the umbrella.-She takes the decision to follow the man to see what is happening.-She observes the man inside the pub.

Role She takes an active part in the story. She interacts with the man and also with her daughter. She is the one that makes the decisions and plans everything. The author describes her as an adventurous person able to do anything to get what she wants, that she doesn´t even care of her daughter and of herself. She takes the risk of following the man and does it without even thinking of it as a dangerous situation.She is a demonstrative character. She shows us by her words and by her actions her anger and impotence and the narrator makes us feel the same as the woman. However, she is described through her actions in a humorous way because she overreacts and exaggerates and that is why the story is funny. The author describes something unpleasant in life like someone who is stealing and lying to people and also who has an addiction but in a humorous way.It is probably that the role she takes is active because she is the adult and she is the one that is going to handle the situation and not a child of twelve years old.

The umbrella man

1

Actions -He is the one that interacts with the woman asking her a favour.-He exchanges his umbrella for a pound not to get a taxi but to get a drink.-He goes into the pub and drinks the whisky.-He steals umbrellas and lies to people to get what he wants.

Role The man takes an active role in the story. He is the most important character because the story focuses on him all the time, on what he does and why he does it. I mean that if we wouldn´t have this character in the story nothing happened and there would be nothing except a girl and her mother waiting for a taxi to get home. He is the one that makes the important actions and that makes sense to the story. The author gives us a totally different description of the man from what he is in fact. He describes him as a nice person and makes us believe that, but also through the woman´s suspicion, he makes us doubt about him, so all the reader´s attention is focused on him and we have ,as the woman, this anxiety to know what is happening to him and that is way we also feel the anger and the impotence that the woman feels when she discovers the truth. We are connected with the woman but the man is a total mystery to us. He is an active character because he is always doing something that is totally unknown for the readers.

The umbrella man

The umbrella man was small and very old. He was probably seventy or more. He had a fine moustache and bushy eyebrows and a wrinkly pink face.

1

He seemed to be a nice person; he was polite, well-spoken and well-dressed. He seemed to be a real gentleman. But in fact the way that the author describes him at the beginning is not the truth. He wasn´t what he looked like. The man was a trickster. He lied to people and stole things that belonged to others in order to get a drink in a pub to satisfy his alcoholic addiction. The author shows us, as I have said in the conclusion, a kind of alcoholic person. We generally assume that people who have this type of addiction are aggressive but he doesn´t seem to be that way. We, of course, have an impression of him through his actions and the girl´s narration and the woman´s point of view but what we don´t know is what he thinks or how he feels because the story is narrated in first person singular, it is narrated by the girl. We only have access to the girl and the mother´s feelings. We have no access to the man´s feelings. We have just an idea considering he is an alcoholic person, we assume he is desperate and does anything to satisfy his addiction. But what we do have is this mystery about the man, about his behaviour and what is really important is that the way the man is presented in the story. It is different from a typical person who has an addiction or who steals things, so this has not a strong impact on the readers because we generally get frightened of these people if they are presented in a more dramatic way.

The umbrella man´s point of view

It was a rainy day and I left the pub where I felt comfortable and warm just to go on with my plan.I had drunk that delicious whisky and I had enjoyed it as much as I always do, but I finished it, and so my desire to get another one, was stronger. So it was the perfect moment to look for another person, an innocent and kind person who would be able to help me, a poor and old man.

1

I couldn´t wait for not even a minute because my desire for a drink was making me feel desperate. As it was raining quite hard, I had a perfect scene. Because of the way I looked and the fact that taxies were full and most of the people had no umbrellas, everyone was going to believe me and the transaction was going to succeed. I had taken a silk umbrella from the coat-rack and nobody saw me. I did it so quickly that nobody took notice. The umbrella was lovely and I considered that my next victim should be a woman who would feel delighted not only with the idea of protecting herself under the umbrella but also with the idea of having one that I assumed had cost too much. I was walking under the rain trying to find my perfect person but it was difficult as I didn´t find it and generally people on rainy days are like mad. Suddenly, I saw her. She was with her daughter outside from a café, I assumed, waiting for a taxi. As I saw her I felt better and more relaxed but I decided to hurry because there was the possibility that she got a taxi. I crossed the street and went directly to her. From where I was before, they seemed to be totally soaked and cold, and they were. I spoke to the woman in a very polite way showing patience and laxness but in fact I was desperate and anxious to complete my transaction. The woman had seemed to me to be ugly and unattractive, and she was. She looked at me like being angry about something as me being near her or breathing near her and I hadn´t even asked her the favour. However, this didn´t discourage me from going on with my plan. I wanted my drink and I was going to get it. I talked to her again in a more polite way making a huge effort and I asked her my favour. She looked shocked and her voice and look were very distant and cold. I went on, explaining to her what I needed because I was sure that I was going to make her change her mind with this lovely umbrella I had and the idea of protecting herself under it. I assumed she was suspicious because I was a stranger and she was just being careful because

1

she was alone with her child, who looked at me as I was an old grandpa. I was sure that my plan was going to succeed because of my lovely and nice appearance. I explained to the woman my problem, the same thing that I repeated to everybody and that remained in my memory. I said that I always went for a walk every day of my life and then I took a taxi to get home, but that day I had forgotten my wallet and I didn´t have money to pay for the taxi-fare. The woman started to ask me a lot of questions, in a very rude and impolite way, how I had gotten there and why I didn´t walk instead of taking a taxi. It was taking so much effort to persuade her but I didn´t give up. I lied that I was too tired to walk home although I felt energetic enough to run to get my drink. So I offered her my umbrella in exchange for a pound note for the taxi-fare. The idea of protecting her and her daughter under the umbrella until they got a taxi tempted her, I knew it, but also the fact that it was a silk umbrella and probably she had never had one. She behaved more gently. She also offered me to give me the money without taking the umbrella. It was not something coming from her but from her daughter who must have told her with her look that she didn´t have to take advantage of me. I laughed at it and I refused the idea and made my offer again. I was loosing my patience and I was not having control of myself. Finally, she smiled happy and we made the exchange. I was happy too. I thanked her and I left as quickly as I could. I wanted to get my whisky and I couldn´t stand her anymore. I run very quickly trying to avoid the traffic and the people because my desire was stronger and stronger as I came closer to my wish coming true.I went to a different pub this time, as I always did, called `the red lion´. There were a lot of people, which was better for me to get another umbrella as nobody was going to notice me in the crowded place. The bar was warm and comfortable. I went directly to the barman and asked for my treble-whisky. I paid for

1

it with the woman´s pound and I drank it with so much pleasure that I licked my moustache searching for one last drop. As I finished, I got up and went to the coat-rack. I put on my umbrella and my hat and in a very casual way that no one noticed me, I took an umbrella hanging there and I left. It was difficult for me to leave the bar and the warmth but I had to do it if I wanted to satisfy my desire of another drink.This time the umbrella was not as lovely as the other one but it was useful enough. I went to the same place where I had met the woman and her daughter and I started again to look for my next victim. I found it very quickly, a tall thin fellow who didn´t have a coat or a hat. I went to her feeling very lucky that day.I can´t deny it, I love rainy days.

Glossary

Page 3

*Hole (noun) An empty space in something solid.

There was a huge hole in the road.

*Gorgeous (adjective) Extremely beautiful or attractive. Extremely pleasant or enjoyable.

Adam is absolutely gorgeous.This is a gorgeous cake.The hotel room had a gorgeous view.

*Chauffeur (noun) Someone whose job is to drive a car for someone else.

The chauffeur drove us to the city.

*Bushy (adjective)

1

Bushy hair or fur grows thickly.The woman had bushy hair and bushy eyebrows.

*Wrinkly (adjective) An offensive word for someone who is old.

The wrinkly face of the man in the dark scared me.

*Shelter (verb) To stay in or under a place where you are protected from

the weather or from danger.We sat in the shade sheltering from the sun.

Page 4

*Poke around or about (phrasal verb) To look for something, especially by moving a lot of things

around.James began poking around in the cupboard looking for the sugar.

*Spot (verb) To notice someone or something especially when they are

difficult to recognize.Meg spotted someone coming out of the building.

*Scrape (noun) A situation in which you are in a trouble or have difficulties.

He got into all sort of scrapes as a boy.

*Fearsome (adjective) Very frightening.

John had a fearsome weapon in his hands.

*Frosty (adjective) Extremely cold.

1

Unfriendly, icy.It was a beautiful frosty morning.We were talking and suddenly, he gave me a frosty look (stare).

*Headmistress (noun) A female teacher who is in charge of a school.

The headmistress talked to me patiently.

*Stammer or stutter (verb) To speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds either

because you have a speech problem or because you are nervous or excited.

She was so nervous that started to stammer.

*Simper (verb) To smile in a silly annoying way.

Betsy simpered at him as she spoke.

*Not bat an eye/eyelid (expression) To not seem to be shocked, surprised or embarrassed.

They started talking about her new hairstyle but she didn´t bat an eyelid.

*Beastly (adjective) Very unpleasant, nasty.

What beastly weather!

*Sternly (adverb) When you behave in a serious and strict way.

The teacher asked Maria sternly about the accident.

Page 5

*Good gracious me (expression) To express surprise.

1

Good gracious! What have happened to your hair?

*Soaked (adjective) Very wet, drenched.

I was soaked and very cold.

*Fare (noun) The price you pay to travel somewhere by bus, train, plane.

I gave him the taxi-fare.

*Summon (verb) To order someone to come to a place.

Robert summoned the waiter for the bill.

*Chew (verb) To bit something continuously because you are nervous or

to taste it.She chewed her lip and said nothing.

*Melt (verb) Become less angry and be more gentle and sympathetic.

I melted a bit when I saw her crying.

*A good deal (expression) A large quantity of something, a lot.

His work has been attracting a great deal of attention.

*Rotten (adjective) Very bad or terrible.

Fred told me that taking advantage of the old man was a rotten thing to do.

Page 6

*Fish into (phrasal verb)

1

To search for something in a bag or pocket.She fished into her purse and took out a photo.

*Sum sb up (phrasal verb) To form a judgment or opinion about someone.

He was summing her up.

*Dodge (verb) To move quickly to avoid someone or something.

The man dodged through the traffic.

*Nimbly (adverb) To move easily, quickly.

The man dodged nimbly in and out of the traffic.

Page 7

*Still (adjective) Not moving, quiet and calm.

The house was completely still.

*Stiff (adjective) Worried, frightened.

We were walking when suddenly Sara stood stiff.

*Bustle along (phrasal verb) To move around quickly.

Sam was bustling along the pavement when the accident happened.

*Sidestep (Verb) To step quickly sideways to avoid being hit or walking into

someone.Tom was sidestepping the other pedestrians.

1

*Stony-faced (adjective) Showing no emotion or friendliness.

Tony stared at me in stony-faced silence.

*Snap (verb) To say something in an angry way.

He snapped at Walter for no reason.

*Scuttle (verb) To move quickly with short steps especially because you

are afraid and do not want to be noticed.I shouted at Susan but she scuttled along like a rabbit.

*Pelt (verb) To be raining very heavily.

Rain pelted the windows.

*Drip (verb) To fall in drops.

The rain dripped down his neck.

*Snug (adjective) To feel comfortable and warm.

The kids were warm and snug in their beds.

*Crook (noun) A dishonest person or a criminal.

The crook got away across the street.

Page 8

*Huddle (verb) If a group of people huddle together, they try to stay very

close to each other especially because they are cold or frightened.

1

We laid huddle together for warmth.

*Clutch (verb) To hold something tightly because you don´t want to lose

it.She was clutching a bottle of champagne.

*Edge (verb) To move.

She edged closer to get a better look.

*Hiss (verb) To say something in a loud whisper.

She hissed at me to be quiet.

*Jolly (adjective) Pleasant and enjoyable.

It was a jolly idea to me.

*Swallow (verb) To make food or drink go down your throat and towards

your stomach.He swallowed the last of his coffee in a second.

Page 9

*Superbly (adverb) To do something extremely good.

He stole the bag superbly that no one noticed it.

*Shriek (verb) To make a very high loud sound because you are angry or

excited or in pain.He shrieked in agony.

1

*Bet (verb) Used to say that you are really sure that something is true.

I bet you he is lying.

Vocabulary activity

1) Write your answers in the blank spaces according to the clues that are given.

a)Extremely cold, unfriendly.b)Adjective use to describe hair or fur that grows thickly.c)Empty space.d)To give an order to someone.e)To smile just because we are angry.f)Very unpleasant.g)Trouble, problem.h)To stay in or under something to protect you.i)Pleasant and enjoyable.j)An offensive word for someone who is old.k)Person who drives a car.l)To speak with pauses and repeated sounds.m)Very frightening.n)To say something in an angry way.

_ _ _ _ TT _ _ _ _ H _ _ _ _ E _ U _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _

B _ _ _ _ _ _

1

_ _ R _ _ _ _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _M _ _ _

_ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ N _ _

2) Crossword

Find the synonyms of these adjectives in the crossword and then make sentences using them.

Extremely beautiful or pleasantWetBadQuietWorriedWarmunfriendly

1

-My neighbour Adam is gorgeous.

-I was standing under the rain, totally cold and soaked.

-Making a joke to the teacher was a rotten idea.

-Janet and Sara were walking through the park when suddenly Sara stood still without talking.

-As I was talking about the accident Adam was standing stiff.

-When I came back from work, my daughter was snug in her bed.

-I was talking to Peter and suddenly he looked at me in stony-faced silence.

3) Complete the sentences using the verbs, nouns, adverbs and expressions in the box. Sometimes you will have to change the tense of the verbs.

1

Headmistress crook fare not bat an eye pelt spot

Scuttle huddle poke around bustle along sidestep

chew melt fish into dodge sum up

clutch Good gracious me great deal

1)John began __________________ in the drawer looking for an old letter.

2)Blair was talking to the neighbour when suddenly she _____________ someone coming out of her house.

3)The student hadn´t done her homework and she was afraid of her _______________.

4)My friends were laughing at my new hairstyle but I did ____________________________.

5)_________________________. What have happened to your face?

6)Air __________ have shot up by 20%.

7)Dan was expressing his feelings to Jenna but she ______________ her lip and said nothing.

8)Peter was shouting at her but when she started to cry he ___________ a bit.

9)Charles´ work had been attracting _____________________ of attention.

1

10)I asked my friend to show me her proofs and she ______________ her purse to look for them.

11)When he met her for the first time, he _______________ her ___.

12)The man _____________ through the traffic and disappeared.

13)Maria was ___________________ the pavement when she found a dollar.

14)The criminal was __________________ the other pedestrians when I saw him.

15) When I saw Nicolas, he _________________along like a rabbit.

16)The rain was _______________ the windows of the café.

17)Nate lied to me! I can´t believe it! He is a _____________.

18)It was a rainy and cold morning and Mike and I ____________ together for warmth.

19)I ________________ my boyfriend´s arm when I heard the thunder.

4)Matches the words to their meaning.

1

Story activity

1)Decide if each statement is true or false according to the story.

a)The woman was suspicious when the man came to her._____________.b)The girl liked the man at the beginning of the story._____________.c)The man took a taxi to get to the pub._____________.d)The man drank a glass of wine._____________.e)The girl decided to follow the man but her mother didn´t want to._____________.f)The man always went to the same pub.

Shriek

Drip

Sternly

Hiss

Nimbly

Superbly

Bet

Edge

Swallow

To fall in drops.

To move.

Do something extremely good.To make a high loud sound.To move easily.

To make food or drink go down through your throat.To behave in a serious way.Whisper.

Be sure of something.

1

_____________.h)The man saw the girl and the mother when he left the pub._____________.i)The next man´s victim was a man._____________.j)The woman talked to the man to complain that he had lied to her._____________.

2)Choose the correct answer

1)When the man came to the woman:a- She was polite and gentle.b-She was cool and distant.

2)The girl thought that the man:a-was a real gentleman.b-was a trickster.

3)When the woman exchanged her pound for the umbrella she felt happy because:a-she had never had a silk umbrella before and now she could protect herself under the rain.b- she had helped the man .

4)When the exchange happened the woman:a-believed that the man was a real gentleman.b-still believed that he was a trickster.

5)When the woman saw that the man was not going to get a taxi she felt.a-worried and frightened.b-anxious and angry

1

6)The girl and the woman followed the man when he entered the pub:a-they entered the pub.b-they just watched him from ouside.

7)When the man came out:a-he saw them.b-he didn´t notice that they were observing him.

8)In the end of the story:a-the woman felt impotent and angry because she couldn´t help people.b-she had no reactions.