Packing - Text
Packing - Text
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7. Packing
BEFORE YO U RE A D
• Do you like going on trips? What kind of trips do you enjoy
most?
• How do you feel about having to pack for a trip?
• Have you ever discovered on a trip that you have forgotten to
pack a few things you very much need, or that you can’t find
them easily?
• Does this make you angry or does it make you laugh at
yourself?
Now read this description of how the author and his friends
pack.
1. I I’d pack.
SAID
I rather pride myself on my packing. Packing pride myself on: am
is one of those many things that I feel I know proud of
more about than any other person living. (It
surprises me myself, sometimes, how many such
things there are.) I impressed the fact upon George
and Harris and told them that they had better
leave the whole matter entirely to me. They fell fell into: here,
into the suggestion with a readiness that had accepted
something uncanny about it. George spread uncanny: strange,
himself over the easy-chair, and Harris cocked weird
his legs on the table.
2. This was hardly what I intended. What I had meant,
of course, was, that I should boss the job, and
that Harris and George should potter about under potter about: do
my directions, I pushing them aside every now and some unimportant
things
then with, “Oh, you!” “Here, let me do it.” “There
you are, simple enough!” — really teaching them,
as you might say. Their taking it in the way
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JEROME K. JEROME
[an extract from Three Men in a Boat]
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II. What does Jerome say was Montmorency’s ambition in life? What do you think
of Montmorency and why?
III. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions in two or three paragraphs
(100 –150 words)
1. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or
worst packer? Support your answer with details from the text.
2. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it?
(Pick out at least three, think about what happens, as well as how it is
described.)
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A B
II. Use suitable words or phrases from Column A above to complete the paragraph
given below.
A Traffic Jam
III. Look at the sentences below. Notice that the verbs (italicised) are all in their
bare form.
• Simple commands:
– Stand up!
– Put it here!
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Positive Negative
(i) Save for a rainy day. (i) Don’t cry over spilt milk.
(ii) Make hay while the sun shines. (ii) Don’t put the cart before the
horse.
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Writing
You have seen how Jerome, George and Harris mess up their packing, especially
of the hamper. From their mistakes you must have thought of some dos and
don’ts for packing. Can you give some tips for packing by completing the
paragraph below?
First pack all the heavy items, especially the ones you don’t need right away.
Then . . .
Here are some words and phrases you can use to begin your sentences
with:
• Then
• Next
• Now
• Remember
• Don’t forget
• At last/Finally
Speaking
Look at this sentence.
“I told George and Harris that they had better leave the whole matter entirely
to me.”
The words had better are used
• in an advice or suggestion:
You had better take your umbrella; it looks like rain.
• in an order
You had better complete your homework before you go out to play.
• as a threat
You had better leave or I’ll have you arrested for trespass!
When we speak, we say you’d/I’d/he’d better, instead of you had better, etc.
Work in pairs to give each other advice, orders or suggestions, or even to threaten
each other. Imagine situations like the following: Your partner
1. hasn’t returned a book to the library.
2. has forgotten to bring lunch.
3. hasn’t got enough change for bus fare.
4. has found out a secret about you.
5. has misplaced your English textbook.
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Activity
Collect some examples of instructions, directions, etc. from notice
boards and pamphlets. Bring them to class and display them, or
read them out. (You can collect examples in English as well as
other languages, Indian or foreign.)
Here is an example for you:
ENGLISH
FRANCAIS
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I
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo,
“Good gracious! how you hop!
Over the fields and the water too,
As if you never would stop!
My life is a bore in this nasty pond,
And I long to go out in the world beyond!
I wish I could hop like you!”
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
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II
“Please give me a ride on your back!”
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
“I would sit quite still, and say nothing but ‘Quack’,
The whole of the long day through!
And we’d go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee,
Over the land, and over the sea;
Please take me a ride! O do!”
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
III
Said the Kangaroo to the Duck,
“This requires some little reflection;
Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck,
And there seems but one objection,
Which is, if you’ll let me speak so bold,
Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,
And would probably give me the roo-
Matiz!” said the Kangaroo.
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IV
Said the Duck, “As I sat on the rocks,
I have thought over that completely,
And I bought four pairs of worsted socks
Which fit my web-feet neatly.
And to keep out the cold I’ve bought a cloak,
And every day a cigar I’ll smoke,
All to follow my own dear true
Love of a Kangaroo!”
V
Said the Kangaroo, “I’m ready!
All in the moonlight pale;
But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit steady!
And quite at the end of my tail!”
So away they went with a hop and a bound,
And they hopped the whole world three times round;
And who so happy — O who,
As the Duck and the Kangaroo?
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