Vocabulary

· Wonder (at)

· Ugly

· Clumsy

· Throw

· Throw on/ over/ off – put quickly or carelessly

· Throw off one’s clothes

· Throw a scarf over one’s shoulders

· Throw about/ around – scatter

· Throw the money about

· Throw the waste paper about

· Throw away/ out – to get rid of

· Throw the old television set away

· Throw one self into – put much effort, time and keenness into

· Throw oneself into your work

· Throw off – manage to get rid of

· Throw open – open sth violently

· Throw the door open

· Throw over – desert, abandon

· Throw over a plan

· Throw dust into sb’s eyes – to deceive or mislead sb

· Throw doubt upon sth – suggest that it is not to be regarded as certain or reliable

· Throw light on sth – make sth clear

· Own (v)

· Affianced – engaged to be married

· Fiance, fiancé e

· Strike – an idea suddenly struck me.

· Care (for)

· Mind

· Make up one’s mind

· Change one’s mind

· Be in two minds – hesitate

· Have a good mind to – be almost decided to, be strongly disposed

· Presence of mind ability to act or decide quickly when there is danger

· Lack

· Blame

· Be to blame – deserve censure

· Who is to blame for starting the fire?

· Afford

Comprehension

Answer the following questions:

1. What was Salvatore like at the age of fifteen?

2. How did he spend most of the time?

3. what sort of family did he come from and who was he responsible for?

4. Who was he soon madly in love with?

5. What prevented him from marrying at the time?

6. Why was it so hard for Salvatore to do his military service?

7. What had never struck him before?

8. What sort of letters did he write to the girl he loved?

9. What happened to Salvatore when he was transferred to China?

10. How did he take the news he was unfit for further service?

11. Who came to meet the boat? How did Salvatore’s mother explain the girl’s absence to him?

12. Where did Salvatore go in the evening?

13. What did the girl tell him straight out?

14. What did Salvatore find out when he returned home?

15. Why did he not blame the girl?

16. What did his mother tell him a few months later?

17. What sort of woman was Assunta?

18. Why did Salvatore go up to High Mass on the following Sunday? How did he dress for the occasion?

19. Where did the couple settle down?

20. What did Salvatore look like at the time of his marriage?

21. What kind of wife did Assunta make?

22. What was the only point they disagreed on?

23. How did Salvatore make his living? Why was his life hard enough?

24. What would he do when he was in pain?

25. How did Salvatore treat his children? What kind of father was he?

26. What was the author’s purpose in writing the story?

Word study