English Comprehension No.8
Read the passages carefully to grasp the sense and the Meaning sought to be conveyed by the narrator. Attempt to point the correct answer to each question.
Mrs. Loisel now learned what it was like to be really poor. She made up her mind to face it and played her part bravely. This terrible debt had to be paid, and pay it she would. The maid was dismissed; the flat was given up and they moved into a garret. She did all the rough household work; washed up after meals and ruined her fingernails scrubbing dirty dishes and pans. She did all the washing and hung it out on the line to dry. Every morning she carried the rubbish down to the street, and brought the water, pausing for breath at the top of each flight of stairs. Dressed like a working woman, she went with her basket on her arm to the greengrocer, the grocer, and the butcher, bargaining, arguing, and fighting for every penny.
Her husband spent his evening’s workings at some shopkeepers’ accounts, and at night he would often copy papers at a few pennies a page.
This life went on for ten years.
At the end of that time, they had paid off everything to the last penny, including the interest on the loan.
Mrs. Loisel now looked like an old woman. She had become a typical poor man’s wife, rough and coarse. Her hair was neglected, her dress was untidy, her hands were red. But now and then, when her husband was at the office, she would sit by the window and her thoughts would go back to that far away evening, the evening of her beauty and her success. What would have been the end of it if she had not lost the necklace? Who could say? How strange and varied are the chances of life. How small a thing can save or ruin you.
One Sunday she went for a walk in the champs Elysees*, and she caught sight of a lady with a child. She recognized Mrs. Forestier, who looked as young, pretty, and as attractive as ever. Mrs. Loisel felt a wave of sadness pass over her. Should she speak to her? Why not? Now that the debt was paid, Why should she not tell her the whole story? She went up to her.
‘Good morning, Jeanne.’
Her friend did not recognize her and said: ‘I’ m afraid I don’t know you- you must have made a mistake’.
‘No, I am Mathilde Loisel.’
Her friend uttered a cry.
‘Oh, my poor dear Mathilde! How you have changed!’
‘Yes, I have been through a very hard time since I saw you last.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You remember the diamond necklace you lent me to wear?’
‘Yes, Well?’
‘Well, I lost it.’
‘I don’t understand. You brought it back to me.’
What I brought you back was another one, exactly like it, and for the last ten years, we have been busy paying for it. You must understand that it was not an easy matter for people like us. Who hadn’t a penny? However, it’s all over now. I can’t tell you what a relief it is.’
Mrs. Forestier stopped dead.
‘You mean that you bought a diamond necklace to replace mine?
‘Yes. And you never noticed it? They were certainly very much alike.’
She smiled with pride and satisfaction. But Mrs. Forestier seized both her hands in great distress.
‘Oh, my poor, dear Mathilde! Why mine was the only imitation. At most, it was worth five hundred francs!’
Question 1: Mrs. Loisel was not a well off lady still she took to pay back the huge amount of necklace:
Answer A in a half-hearted way
Answer B in a reluctant manner
Answer C quite unwillingly
Answer D in a determined way
Answer d
Question 2: Entire money was paid up by her without excuse but:
Answer A It took ten years for Loisel to clear off the dues in installments
Answer B It took ten years for them to save that much amount to payback
Answer C It took a lesser period in paying back the money
Answer D They had not paid back in full the amount of necklace even during a period of ten years
Answer a
Question 3: Mrs. Loisel struggled very hard to pay back the amount and it:
Answer A Had made her weak and ill
Answer B Had no effect on her health
Answer C Had made her demoralized and ill-humored
Answer D Had affected her looks
Answer d
Question 4: When Mrs. Loisel met Mrs. Forestier she:
Answer A Told her that she had lost the necklace but processed to return another exactly like it
Answer B admitted that she had replaced Mrs. Forestier’s diamond necklace with a necklace of imitation diamonds
Answer C told her that the necklace she had returned was not the same that she had borrowed
Answer D accused Mrs. Forestier of being a cause of ten years sufferings
Answer c
Question 5: Mrs. Forestier told Mrs. Loisel to the effect that:
Answer A The necklace that was returned was made of imitation diamonds
Answer B The necklace borrowed by Mrs. Loisel was not of real diamonds
Answer C The necklace returned valued just 500 francs
Answer D The necklace that she had returned valued less than 500 francs
Answer b