Brilliant Activities for Reading Comprehension Year 5 : Engaging Stories to Develop Comprehension Skills [1 ed.] 9780857474995, 9780857474865

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Ages: 7–11yrs

Brilliant Activities for

Reading Comprehension, Year 5 Engaging Stories to Develop Comprehension Skills

Charlotte Makhlouf

Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................................4 Links to the National Literacy Strategy.........................................................................................5 Cross-curricular Activities.............................................................................................................8 Letter of Complaint.....................................................................................................................14 The Evil Genie Strikes................................................................................................................16 The Body in the Greehouse.......................................................................................................19 The Mysterious Case of the Eukanuba Diamond.......................................................................22 The Foreteller Casket.................................................................................................................25 The Time Machine......................................................................................................................28 Topleigh Manor...........................................................................................................................31 Trouble at Bunbury Bloater Club................................................................................................33 The Mysterious Case of the Eukanuba Diamond Continues … ................................................36 Game Ranger Diaries.................................................................................................................39 Trick or Treat..............................................................................................................................42 Treason!.....................................................................................................................................45 Achievement...............................................................................................................................48 The Diary of Lord Ambrose Pagett.............................................................................................51 The Honourable Percival Soames..............................................................................................54 The Bathroom (a play)................................................................................................................57 Maya...........................................................................................................................................60 The Painting (part 1)...................................................................................................................63 The Appalling Day......................................................................................................................66 Storm over Skullbone Island......................................................................................................69 The Painting (part 2)...................................................................................................................72 Chapter 5: Collecting a Thayle Egg............................................................................................75 A Self-made Man........................................................................................................................78 The Wrong Spell.........................................................................................................................81 Strike at the Workshop (a play)..................................................................................................84 Visit to Bath................................................................................................................................87 The Audition...............................................................................................................................90 Friday 11th March 2011..............................................................................................................93 The Young Egyptian Scribe........................................................................................................96 Rescue?.....................................................................................................................................99 The Wind..................................................................................................................................102 Jasmin Fitzroy..........................................................................................................................105 Answers....................................................................................................................................108

Brilliant Activities for

Reading Comprehension, Year 5 Engaging Stories and Activities to Develop Comprehension Skills

Charlotte Makhlouf

Brilliant Publications publishes many other practical resource books for primary school teachers, a few of which are listed below. You may find more details on our website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk. Brilliant Activities for Reading Comprehension Series Year 1..............................................................................................................978-0-85747-482-7 Year 2..............................................................................................................978-0-85747-483-4 Year 3..............................................................................................................978-0-85747-484-1 Year 4..............................................................................................................978-0-85747-485-8 Year 6..............................................................................................................978-0-85747-487-2 Other publications Brilliant Activities for Persuastive Writing.........................................................978-1-903853-54-2 Brilliant Activities for Reading Non-Fiction.......................................................978-1-903853-46-7 Brilliant Activities for Reading Fiction..............................................................978-1-903853-45-0 Speaking and Listening Games......................................................................978-1-903853-56-6 Fun with Plays.................................................................................................978-1-897675-65-6 Fun with Poems...............................................................................................978-1-897675-64-9 Fun with Action Rhymes and Poems...............................................................978-1-903853-50-4

Published by Brilliant Publications Unit 10 Sparrow Hall Farm Edlesborough Dunstable Bedfordshire LU6 2ES, UK Tel:

© Text: Charlotte Makhlouf 2012 © Design: Brilliant Publications 2012

2015 digital version by Andrews UK Limited www.andrewsuk.com

01525 222292

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk The name Brilliant Publications and the logo are registered trademarks. Written by Charlotte Makhlouf Illustrated by Calivn Innes, Pat Murray and Frank Endersby Cover illustration by Pat Murray Front cover designed by Brilliant Publications

The right of Charlotte Makhlouf to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by herself in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Pages 14–121 may be photocopied by individual teachers acting on behalf of the purchasing institution for classroom use only, without permission from the publisher an without declaration to the Publishers Licensing Society. The materials may not be reproduced in any other form or for any other purpose without the prior permission of the publisher.

Introduction The importance of reading for meaning should never be underestimated. Whilst many young children might be able to decode quite complex texts, it is vital that they understand what they read. More importantly, it is fundamental that they enjoy what they are reading. Over my 15 years of experience, I have used a number of comprehension books as part of my English teaching. Very few of them have engaged the children who are being asked to read and understand them. I decided that if we are asking children to read, understand and answer questions from a passage, that passage should at least engage their attention, and indeed their teacher’s attention as well. The passages in the Brilliant Activities for Reading Comprehension Series are designed to give children valuable reading practice through varied, enjoyable texts. The passages begin in the Year 1 book with simple picture comprehension. They gradually increase in difficulty as you progress through the book, and through the series, encouraging pupils to use a range of strategies for decoding the text and to develop their ability to read for meaning. The passages are entirely fictional and it is hoped that both teachers and pupils will find them humorous. Teachers should read the texts with the children and discuss them thoroughly before allowing them to proceed to the activities. If you are using the e-book version, you can display the pages on the interactive white board. In the Year 5 book there are first a series of Questions that require factual recall. Encourage children to respond in full sentences. The Word work sections will help to develop and stretch their vocabulary. The Extension work sections require more open-ended questions enabling the pupils to provide a more personal response. Children should write the answers in their workbooks or on separate sheets of paper. Answers are provided on pages 108–121. On pages 8–13 there are some suggestions for ways in which the children can follow up this work in other areas of the curriculum, thus providing a cross-curricular aspect. These activities are ideal for children who finish their work early. The Brilliant Activities for Reading Comprehension Series provides the teacher with a basis for ensuring progression. The activities give pupils: u

the ability to select or retrieve information in order to answer the questions successfully using a full sentence

u

the opportunity to deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from the texts

u

the opportunity to identify and comment on the structure and organization of the text and comment on the writer’s use of language at word and sentence level

u

the chance to comment on cultural, social or historical traditions and the impact the text may have on the reader.

The Brilliant Activities for Reading Comprehension Series provides an invaluable resource for assessing pupil progress in reading. The key assessment criteria from the National Strategies for levels 3 and 4 for reading are listed, for your convenience, on pages 5–7.

Links to the National Literacy Strategy The activities in this book will help to assess the following criteria: AF1 – use a range of strategies, including accurate decoding of text, to read for meaning Level 3

In most reading u range of strategies used mostly effectively to read with fluency, understanding and expression.

AF2 – understand, describe, select or retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to text Level 3

Level 4

In most reading: u simple, most obvious points identified though there may also be some misunderstanding, eg about information from different places in the text u some comments include quotations from or references to text, but not always relevant, eg often retelling or paraphrasing sections of the text rather than using it to support comment. Across a range of reading: u some relevant points identified u comments supported by some generally relevant textual reference or quotation, eg reference is made to appropriate section of text but is unselective and lacks focus.

AF3 – deduce, infer or interpret information events or ideas from text Level 3

Level 4

In most reading: u straightforward inference based on a single point of reference in the text, eg ‘he was upset because it says “he was crying”’ u responses to text show meaning established at a literal level, eg ‘walking good’ means ‘walking carefully’ or based on personal speculation eg a response based on what they personally would be feeling rather than feelings of character in the text. Across a range of reading: u comments make inferences based on evidence from different points in the text, eg interpreting a character’s motive from their action at different points u inferences often correct, but comments are not always rooted securely in the text or repeat narrative or content.

AF4 – identify and comment on the structure and organization of texts, including grammatical and presentational features at text level Level 3

In most reading: u a few basic features of organization at text level identified, with little or no linked comment, eg ‘it tells about all the different things you can do at the zoo.’

Level 4

Across a range of reading: u some structural choices identified with simple comment, eg ‘he describes the accident first and then goes back to tell you why the child was in the road’ u some basic features of organization at text level identified, eg the writer uses bullet points for the main reasons.



AF5 – explain and comment on writer’s use of language, including grammatical and literary features at word and sentence level Level 3

In most reading: u a few basic features of writer’s use of language identified, but with little or no comment, eg ‘there are lots of adjectives.’

Level 4

Across a range of reading: u some basic features of writer’s use of language identified, eg ‘all the questions make you want to find out what happens next’ u simple comments on the writer’s choices, eg ‘“disgraceful” is a good word to use to show he is upset.’



AF6 – identify and comment on writer’s purposes and viewpoints, and the overall effect of the text on the reader Level 3

In most reading: u comments identify purpose, eg ‘the writer doesn’t like violence’ u express personal response but with little awareness of the author’s viewpoint or effect on reader, eg ‘she was just horrible like my nan is sometimes.’

Level 4

Across a range of reading: u main purpose is identified, eg ‘it’s all about why going to the dentist is important and how you should look after your teeth’ u simple comments show some awareness of writer’s viewpoint, eg ‘he only tells you good things about the farm and makes the shop sound boring’ u simple comment on overall effect on reader, eg ‘the way she describes him as “ratlike” and “shifty” makes you think he’s disgusting.’



AF7 – relate texts to their social, cultural and historical traditions Level 3

In most reading: u some simple connections between texts identified, eg similarities in plot, topic or books by same author, about same characters u recognition of some features of the context of texts, eg historical setting, social or cultural background

Level 4

Across a range of reading: u features common to different texts or version of the same text identified with simple comment, eg characters, settings, presentational features u simple comment on the effect that the reader’s or writer’s context has on the meaning of texts, eg historical context, place, social relationships.

Cross-curricular Activities Letter of Complaint

page 14

v Look at some different menus. Choose a style of restaurant or café. Draw up a menu for it, showing a range of foods to suit different tastes. v Design placemats for a restaurant or for younger children to use when they eat their dinner. Laminate them. v Carry out a survey of the favourite foods liked by children in your class. v Look at pictures of chef’s hats. Then make one from some old sheeting or other plain fabric. v Discuss and agree some rules for ensuring hygiene and safety when cooking. v Act out the scene in a group with each person taking on the role of one of the characters. The Evil Genie Strikes page 16 v Find out more about what a genie, or jinnee, is. v The genie has lain in the bottle for eight thousand years. Approximately what was the date when the genie entered the bottle? v Read The Merchant and the Genie, or Aladdin. What are the genies like in those stories? v Draw a picture of the genie coming out of the bottle. v Make a map of the island on which Georgia is stranded. v You are Georgia. Write a message asking for help and put it in a bottle. v Make a 3D model of the island out of papier mâché. The Body in the Greenhouse

page 19

v Imagine you are Snapp. Think about who you would like to question next and why. What questions would you ask? Role-play this situation with a friend. v Draw a map of the garden and the greenhouse showing where the body was located. v Design a storyboard for a film about the story. v Take some seeds out of a tomato and try to

grow them. v Make a mini greenhouse from an old plastic drinks bottle to put over your tomato seeds. Use a thermometer to find the temperature inside your greenhouse. Is it warmer than outside? v Rewrite the passage in play format. v Act out the scene in a group with each person taking on the role of one of the characters. The Mysterious Case of the Eukanuba Diamond page 22 v Paint or draw the Athena Club. v Make an eyeglass like Doctor Akinato’s and paint it. v The Smaller Spotted Sea Turtle is a makebelieve animal. Draw or paint one. Give a description of where it lives, its preferred habitat and its behaviour. v Research some real turtles. How big are they, and where do they live? How many eggs do they lay and where do they lay them? v Imagine you find the Eukanuba diamond and decide to sell it. It fetches £1 000 000. How would you spend that much money? v Use one sheet of A4 card to make the largest box you can to hold a large diamond. Measure the capacity of the box. The Foreteller Casket

page 25

v Make a casket and decorate it. Find something special to keep in it. v Use flat construction shapes to make a large hollow diamond. Or draw the net of a diamond on card and cut it out to make your diamond. v Research sirens and write a short, illustrated piece explaining what or who they are to display in your classroom. v Draw the three elvan princesses and write a brief character description of each. v Rewrite the passage only in a poem format. v Mime the journey of the Elvan princesses showing the adventures, trials and tribulations they face.

The Time Machine

page 28

v Have a class discussion on whether people should try to travel back or forwards in time. v Do some research on jungle plants and animals then paint the jungle that Ricksha visits. v Act out the scene in which Ricksha unveils her time machine and prepares to leave for the jungle. v Make a list of some events, past and future, that you would travel to if you had a time machine. v Read The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, or a shortened version written specially for children. v Design your own time machine. v Discuss the effect you might have on the future by going back in time and affecting history. v Imagine you are travelling somewhere in a time machine. Write a list of what you would take in your rucksack. Make sure it would all fit, and estimate the weight of the full rucksack. Topleigh Manor

page 31

v Design the menu for a banquet to celebrate Queen Elizabeth I’s arrival. v Design a leaflet advertising the major products on sale in the farm shop. v Make a price list for all the items sold at the farm shop. v Say which of the items sold at the farm shop are the most popular and why. v You are one of the room guides at Topleigh Manor. Describe the room you look after and write a few sentences about its history. v Design the front cover of a guide book for Topleigh. v Imagine you are Queen Elizabeth I giving a speech after a banquet at Topleigh. What would you say and how would you deliver it to your guests? v Act out the scene where Charles II arrives secretly at Topleigh and is then hidden from the Roundheads. v King Charles II, now King, writes a letter to Lord William’s Grandson, thanking him for his protection during the war. What else does he say in his letter?

Trouble at the Bunbury Bloater Club page 33 v Write and illustrate an article for next week’s newspaper about Maeve Pumfrey and her strange behaviour that evening. v In play format, write down the conversation Maeve Pumfrey and the herbalist had about the potion and its special qualities. v Produce a brochure advertising the Bunbury Bloater Club. v Paint Maeve in her chicken costume. v Discuss with some friends what animal costumes would suit each of you best. The Mysterious Case of the Eukanuba Diamond Continues … page 36 v Make a crocodile mask. v Make up a crocodile dance. v Cut stiff clear plastic, from packaging, into triangles and stick them together to make an diamond shaped like an octahedron. v Design and make a board game based on people trying to steal, or protect, the Eukanuba Diamond. v Write the conversation between Professor Ravioli and Doctor Akinato in which he tries to persuade her to let him have the diamond. Write it in play format ready to act out. v The Crocodile Cult has had an ancient poem written about it. Write the poem for the Cult making it as evocative and memorable as possible. Devise some actions to go with it! Game Ranger Diaries

page 39

v Make a map of the reserve showing all the paths the jeeps use and the perimeter fence. v Look at travel brochures about countries in southern Africa and find out about all the different game reserves. v Research the type of animals you might find on a game reserve. v Cut up old magazines and travel brochures to make a collage of animals you might see in a game reserve. v Have a class debate in which one half of the class proposes an argument for hunting whilst the other half propose an argument against hunting.

v Find out some statistics about big cats (lions, cheetahs, tigers, etc) and decide how to present them in an interesting and clear way. Trick or Treat

page 42

v Draw Declan and Hannah, surrounded by the things that they are frightened about. v Talk with a friend about the things that scare you. v Design a face for a Halloween pumpkin, then use the design to make a pumpkin mask. v Make a miniature front garden, like the one the old house used to have. v Mr Brown is 85 years old. Find out about some of the historical events he has lived through. For example, is he old enough to have fought in the Second World War? Treason!

page 45

v Write a page in a history book describing King Frederick’s character, and illustrate it. v Design and make a stained glass window like the one in King Frederick’s council chamber. v Invent a family tree for King Frederick, showing his parents, his wife, his children,etc. v Research what subjects tapestries show. Make your own version of a tapestry, either using coloured pencils or fabric scraps or both. v Cecil Harvey and King Frederick have known each other for 39 years. Frederick was 7 when they first met. How old is he now? Make up more number problems like this. v Write the conversation that you think might have taken place between King Frederick and Lord Cecil Harvey. What do you think they said? v Write the conversation that takes place between the King and Chancellor Mercy after the King has seen Lord Cecil. v Lord Cecil writes poetry in his free time. Whilst in prison, awaiting his sentence, he writes a poem. Imagine that you are Lord Cecil, what will the poem be like? Achievement

page 48

v Paint a picture of Adrian’s garden. Read the passage again so you know what to put in the picture.

v Find out about the career ambitions of the people in your class, and choose a way to display this information. v Draw a timeline of Adrian’s life and put on it some facts you find out from the passage. You may need to invent some of the dates and events. v Draw a timeline for your own life. You could make it from birth to the present day, or invent an imaginary one to take you up to the age of 50. The Diary of Lord Ambrose Pagett

page 51

v Imagine that you are Lady Penelope and you are having a garden party in the summer. Describe how you would decorate your garden and what interesting food you would serve. v Design a costume to wear at Lady Penelope’s next fancy dress ball. v Look at some portraits painted in the early 18th century. Choose someone from the passage and paint their portrait. v Imagine you are the celebrated Mr Jenkins. Compose a poem to be read aloud to the rest of the class. v Was 1721 a leap year? How can you work that out? v What was the next leap year after 1721? The Honourable Percival Soames

page 54

v Design an outfit for Percival to wear at the ball. v Design and make invitations for Lord Ambrose’s ball. What information will they need to include? v Look at some playing cards, then design some cards yourself. Don’t forget the backs need designing, as well as the fronts. v Paint a picture of Nellie, Percival’s mare. v Keep a journal for a week. Do you enjoy writing about what you have done? The Bathroom (a play)

page 57

v Draw a plan of your ideal bathroom. v Explain what stage directions are and how stage directions help an actor. v Design some bathroom tiles.

v Make a tile using Plasticine® or clay and decorate it. v Explore different shapes of tiles. Tiles don’t need to be square as long as they fit together with no gaps. v Mrs Zebronovitch has a conversation with her builders about the ruined tiles. Write in play format, the conversation she has. Give the builders names and say how many characters there will be. v You are a famous director. How will you stage this particular play? Write down ideas for stage directions and stage design. What will the costumes be like and how you visualize your characters will look like. Maya

page 60

v Design and write a school report for Maya. v Invent some really difficult work in maths or English for Maya to do. v Create a list of interesting or informative books that Maya might enjoy reading. v Find out about black holes and create an artwork showing one. The Painting (part 1)

page 63

v What do you think the painting looks like? Show this in a painting or drawing. v Using watercolour paints or charcoal, make a picture of Sagwell Castle. v Devise postcards to sell to visitors coming to Sagwell Castle. v Make up a history of Sagwell Castle. Show this on a timeline. v If Amy opens the castle to visitors, she could earn some money. Find out what similar tourist attractions charge and make a suggestion as to what Amy should charge. Will there be concessions for students and other people? For groups? v How much would it cost a family of 3 adults and 4 children to visit the castle according to your system of charging? The Appalling Day

page 66

v Mrs Fothergill thinks the design for the box of ‘Sneezies’ is unimaginative rubbish. Design a box for the tissues yourself. Include a net of

the box and measurements. v Design a poster for the school fête Daphne will be visiting at the weekend. v Paint a picture of Mrs Fothergill to go on her office wall. v Look at a lottery ticket then design your own. What information does the ticket need on it? v Daphne has to give a promotional presentation to the Board of Directors, promoting Sneezies. Write a suitable pitch for Daphne and deliver it to a group of friends in role as the Board of Directors. v Write a catchy jingle in order to promote Sneezies, ready for a television commercial. Storm over Skullbone Island

page 69

v Draw a map showing Turtle Island and Skullbone Island. v Paint a picture of Captain Flint or Screwy Scrawkins. v Look at pictures of old ships. Design your own figurehead for the prow of the Sea Snake or The Diamond. v One of Flint’s gold coins is dated 1563. It is now in a museum. How old is it? What is the oldest coin you have got? v A chest full of gold and jewels needs two strong people to lift it. Roughly how heavy do you think the full chest is? v The treasure is going to be auctioned off. Select five pieces of jewellery and write imaginative descriptions for them, saying who they belonged to and how they were acquired. v Design an auction brochure with pictures of the jewellery and the details about it underneath. You should also add the price it is expected to reach at sale. v Write a poem about Turtle Island. The Painting (part 2)

page 72

v Draw pictures of the hall and minstrels’ gallery, and write a description of each, to be included in a guide book to Sagwell Castle. v You are in charge of producing a guide book for the castle. Decide on the contents and how many pages it has. Decide how big the book should be. Design a front cover.

v Paint a picture of Custar Bothwait to be hung in the hall of the castle.

v Research trolls. What country or countries have stories about trolls?

v As a class, design a mural for the minstrels’ gallery in the castle.

v Read some stories about trolls.

Chapter 5: Collecting a Thayle Egg

page 75

v Write a comprehensive checklist for someone about to embark on their quest for a Thayle egg. v The time between the laying of a Thayle egg and its hatching is about 40 days. Find out how long other kinds of eggs take to incubate. Does this help you form an idea of the size of a Thayle egg, and of an adult Thayle?

v Draw or paint the Golden Chameleon. v The wizards had many spells they could try to get the ship back. Write one of the spells they could use. Can you make it rhyme? v Imagine that you are the trolls and that the Golden Chameleon has arrived in your land. Act out your excitement as you find and steal the treasure. v King Enobar arrives unexpectedly. Imagine you are King Enobar, act out wrath when you realize your treasure is lost.

v Paint a picture of the mythical Thayle. v Design and make a sack you could use for carrying your Thayle egg. v Draw a map showing in detail the geographical area in which the Thayles might be found. Don’t forget to put in co-ordinates and compass directions. v Make a line graph showing the development of the baby Thayle once it has hatched (be as imaginative and detailed as possible). v Write a poem celebrating the arrival of your baby Thayle. v With a friend act out the journey and capture of your Thayle egg. One of you should do all the talking, describing the journey in detail, whilst the other mimes out the actions as imaginatively as possible. A Self-made Man

page 78

v Compare samples of cotton and wool. How are they different and how are they the same? v Find out about how cotton fabric is made. v Find out about one or two countries where cotton is grown. Imagine you are Mr Gossington telling Mrs Noakes about one of your visits to that country. v Find out what kind of clothing Lady Emily might have worn and draw a picture of her. The Wrong Spell

page 81

v Draw portraits of the wizards and the young apprentice, and write a character profile for each one.

Strike at the Workshop (a play)

page 84

v Write a list of presents which you could give someone which you could make or find, and which would cost you very little. v Look in a catalogue or online and plan how you would spend £100 on presents for a family of six children, aged 2 to 14. v Design and make wrapping paper for the elves to use in their workshop. v You are an elf who has just joined the workshop and you want to make it more up to date. Make a list of all the new equipment and technology that could help Father Christmas and the elves, and make their tasks easier. v Make a brochure displaying sleighs for sale. Give each one a name and price, and say what is special about it. Vote for the sleigh which the class thinks would best suit Father Christmas. Visit to Bath

page 87

v Find out about the city of Bath nowadays. Is it a place you would like to visit? What would you do there? v Find out about the work of a wheelwright. Is it a job you would have enjoyed doing? v Eugenia was born about 1780. List ways of travelling that we have now that were not available in Eugenia’s day. v Find out about the kind of carriage Eugenia might have travelled in. Then draw or paint one. v Imagine you are a famous poet visiting Bath.

You have written your latest poem, read it aloud to the class in role. Don’t forget to write your poem first. What will it be about? v Plot Aunt Gwendoline’s travels on a world map showing where she went.

paintbrush? Invent your own hieroglyphics. Make a key so people know what each symbol means, then write a sentence or two using your hieroglyphics. Rescue?

The Audition

page 90

v Think of a play or favourite story that might be acted on stage. Imagine that you are responsible for all the props. Make a list of the props that would be needed by the actors. Try to keep the list manageable – you don’t want too many to keep track of. v Look at a book of audition speeches and try saying one aloud to an audience. v Have an audition for an imaginary play. Give everyone who wants to the chance to recite a poem or a speech, or to sing or dance. v Write a short scene in a play about a girl aged 12 that Lucy might act in. v Go on a theatre visit and find out what it is like backstage. Friday 11th March 2011

page 93

page 99

v Write the passage out in play format. Make sure all the children say what they are thinking or feeling and give their opinions. v Have a class discussion about what you would do in a similar emergency situation. v Look at catalogues or websites that sell gear for camping in the mountains, and in snow. Choose how to spend £500 on some kit that would have been useful to Niang and the others if it had been stowed in the hold of the plane. v Draw or paint a scene from this story. The Wind

page 102

v Make a storyboard of Maya’s tale about the girl and the wind. v Find or make up a recipe for honey and raspberry tarts, then cook them.

v Find out more about the earthquake that struck Japan on Friday 11th March 2011.

v Design a necklace that a six year old might like.

v Look at a globe or atlas to find out where Sendai is.

v How could you test whether something was made from wood or plastic?

v In pairs or groups, write a newspaper report on the events in Japan on this day.

v Find out about forests and jungles under threat. Why do some people want to chop them down?

v Find out more about earthquakes and where fault lines are located.

Jasmin Fitzroy The Young Egyptian Scribe

page 96

v List some of the dangers of working on a pyramid. v How old are the pyramids? How could you find out? v Make a pyramid from card. What shape must the faces be? v Make your own papyrus using banana skins then, when it is dry, decorate it. v Find out about hieroglyphics. Try to copy some onto paper. What tool works best: pencil, pen,

page 105

v Make an advert showing a variety of super new brooms for Jasmin to choose from. v Make a price list to go with the list of brooms showing which is the cheapest and which is the most expensive. v It’s sale time. Reduce the price of the brooms by 25% and show the new prices. v Research familiars and prepare a piece to share with the class on the topic. v Look at a map of the UK and plot on it all the places Jasmin and her broom have visited.

Letter of Complaint ‘ The Thistles’ 14 Mistletoe Lane Berkingstead ZFT2 8XY January 23rd 2014 The Managing Director The Apple Garden Restaurant Potter’s Lane Berkingstead ZFT1 9AA nds, Dear Madam, together with four of our frie I, d an r hte ug da my al me t the dreadful re was no I am writing to complain abou but on arrival we were told the o, ag nth mo a ked boo We ht. had at your restaurant last nig rkins’. ‘Pe of the staff table booked in the name near the kitchen doors and s wa it t bu , us for le tab a nd into one of my The manager grudgingly fou e point a waitress knocked on At st. pa nt we y the as s have kept bumping our chair all over my guest’s suit. We d he las sp d an y, tra r he off l guests and a tomato juice fel s. thi a hurry received no apology for for drinks. He was clearly in ers ord e tak to me ca r ite gne wa . When they did, the champa It was 20 minutes before the ed riv ar s ink dr the e for be 20 minutes . He but we had to wait another being asked for a fresh bottle at d ye no an ed em se r ite wa e d him to try it, he was flat and undrinkable. Th champagne but when I invite the h wit g on wr ng thi no s argued that there wa ite right’. admitted that it was ‘not qu it back to the en it arrived, we had to send Wh . se ur co t firs r ou for ur We waited another ho e kitchen because it was cold. t stone cold inside. By the tim bu de tsi ou t ho s wa ne ag tter. The las all too tired Our main course was no be past midnight and we were ll we s wa it d oke co red an d all the food had been remove ng around to eat. a number of rats congregati e se to d fie rri ho all re we we kitchens are. Upon leaving the restaurant wondering how hygienic the us t lef ich wh e, nc tra en en the bins near the kitch r. ur comments on this matte ub I look forward to hearing yo ctorate and to the Great Gr pe Ins y fet Sa d an h alt He letter to the I am sending a copy of this restaurant listed. Yours faithfully, Guide where we found your Clementina Perkins

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Briefly explain why Clementina Perkins is writing this letter of complaint. 2. How long did it take for the drinks to arrive? 3. Why was sitting near the kitchen a problem?

Word work Give the meaning of the following words: complain undrinkable congregating grudgingly hygienic

4. What happened to the suit worn by one of the guests? 5. Why do you think it is not a good sign that there were rats near the kitchen entrance? 6. Who has Clementina sent copies of her letter to? 7. Why was the first course returned?

Extension work 1. Write what you think the guest might have said to the waitress, when they had tomato juice spilt down them. 2. Imagine you are managing director of the restaurant. Write a short letter in response to this letter. How will you explain the behaviour of your staff and all the things that went wrong? 3. Why has Clementina Perkins sent a copy of her letter to the Health and Safety Inspectorate and the Great Grub Guide? 4. Unknown to the manager, a food critic has been secretly dining at Apple Garden Restaurant on the same night as the Perkins. Imagine you are the food critic. Write up your report on the restaurant. 5. Write about the restaurant from the point of view of the rats. 6. Write a favourable, or unfavourable, review of any café or restaurant you have visited.

The Evil Genie Strikes Georgia stared at the bottle. It was rather an odd place to find one: buried under the sand at the foot of the cliffs. She might never have found it if it hadn’t been for the fossil she had been digging out. Then again, perhaps it wasn’t an odd thing to happen. Maybe the sea had washed it up and the wind had covered it with sand. Georgia picked the bottle up and peered into it. In the best stories, bottles washed up by the sea contained messages from people stranded on desert islands. This bottle could contain an important message from someone desperate for help. Georgia imagined herself rescuing a group of terrified individuals who had been marooned on an island for years. In her mind’s eye, she could see them all trying hard to fend off the wild animals and survive the wild weather. ‘If I rescue them,’ she thought, ‘I’ll be hailed as a hero. Then I’ll have my picture in the papers all over the world. I’ll be famous!’ The thought was a good one. ‘I might get rich.’ She wondered how much money the newspapers would give her for an exclusive story on a desert island rescue. Then she had another thought. ‘It wouldn’t just be the papers … someone would write a book about my life and then they would turn it into a major film. Why, I’d be megafamous.’ Without stopping to think further, she pulled at the cork stopper. At first the

cork refused to come out, and remained jammed in the neck of the bottle. Georgia heaved and puffed until her face turned quite red. Then the cork shot out with an enormous pop, flinging Georgia onto the soft, sandy beach. She gazed upwards as a huge cloud of smoke streamed from the bottle and swirled up into the air. She watched, transfixed, as the cloud gradually took the shape of a giant human, clad in a flowery waistcoat, baggy trousers and emerald green turban. ‘It’s a genie,’ gasped Georgia. ‘Wow! Now I’ll be granted three wishes. Fantastic!’ A grin spread across her face. There were tons of things she wanted. Pots of money obviously, and a flashy car  (which she would be too young to drive) and an enormous house. Georgia’s list was endless, the trouble was, there would only be three wishes.

Georgia stared up at the genie and her grin faded. The genie was towering over her looking distinctly unfriendly. ‘I am the genie of the bottle,’ he thundered, making the water in the rock pools nearby ripple and quiver. ‘I have lain in this bottle for 8,000 years and now you have dared to disturb my rest.’ Georgia swallowed uncomfortably. ‘Sorry,’ she said in a small voice. ‘I didn’t realize you were resting. May I have my three wishes now?’ ‘Wishes!’ snapped the genie. ‘I don’t grant wishes. I punish those who ruin my sleep.’ So saying, he lifted Georgia

in his mighty hands and zoomed high into the air, over the big, blue sea until he reached a small, desert island. Georgia found herself being tipped out from the palm of the genie’s hand onto a sandy beach with a couple of palm trees on it. Behind the beach was a tangled jungle of vines and creepers. The genie glared at a now terrified Georgia and folded his arms. ‘Let that be a lesson to you, you greedy girl.’ He then vanished. Georgia looked about her in horror. What on earth was she to do now?

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Describe what Georgia has found. What was she doing when she found it? 2. What does Georgia think might be in the bottle? 3. What rewards does she hope to receive for rescuing people from the island she imagines? 4. How long has the genie been in the bottle? 5. What does Georgia hope that the genie will do for her?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: odd stranded desperate jammed flashy 2. What does it mean to be ‘hailed as a hero’?

6. Why is the genie annoyed with Georgia? 7. How does the genie punish Georgia?

Extension work 1. Why do you think the cork is stuck in the bottle? 2. Now that she is on the desert island, what do you think Georgia should do next? 3. What do you think the genie will do next? 4. What dangers do you think Georgia might encounter on the island? 5. Georgia meets someone or something on the island – describe what you think she might meet and what happens next. 6. Imagine something else, not a genie, comes out of the bottle. What do you think it could be and what powers would it have? 7. If you could interview the genie about his life, what would you ask him? 8. If you were granted three wishes what would you ask for?

The Body in the Greenhouse Loretta had trailed down to the bottom of the garden to take Jude a mug of tea. Understandably, Loretta had been deeply affected by the scene. Her screams had alerted the rest of the household. Loretta was now lying down on her bed, having been sedated by the doctor. Mrs Ponsonby had shown no sorrow over the untimely end of Jude, only anger that he had dared spoil a perfectly good crop of tomatoes, which now lay mangled on the ground, ruined.

Detective Inspector Snapp stared at Mrs Ponsonby. She knew the woman was lying. Her eyes failed to meet the inspector’s and she had evaded a number of questions very cleverly. She said she’d been at home all morning but old Mr Porter had seen her in the post office at about eleven, with a large, brown paper package. Then the next door neighbour had seen Mrs Ponsonby out in the garden with a coffee cup just after breakfast. But Mrs Ponsonby, when questioned, said she had not set foot in the garden all day. And that seemed unlikely, because Mrs Ponsonby was known to be mad about her garden. But whether or not she was lying, there was still the problem of the greenhouse where the body of Jude, the gardener, lay dead amongst the tomatoes. The body had been discovered after lunch by Loretta, Mrs Ponsonby’s daughter.

‘Perhaps you are not aware, Dectective Inspector,’ she continued frostily, ‘that my husband and myself are very fond of tomatoes. Very fond.’ She stressed her final words firmly. Dectective Inspector Snapp raised an eyebrow. ‘And might I enquire as to where your husband is right now?’ Mrs Ponsonby stiffened. ‘I hope you’re not suggesting that my husband had anything to do with this?’ she snapped. ‘He’s a very busy man and he certainly hasn’t got time to go around murdering people.’ ‘Indeed,’ replied Detective Inspector Snapp. ‘But you still haven’t told me where he is.’ ‘At the hospice,’ said Mrs Ponsonby grudgingly. ‘He’s at a committee meeting there.’ Detective Inspector Snapp nodded. ‘Thank you. I’ll meet him there later. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go and see how my forensic colleagues are getting on.’ Deara Ahmed, the head of the forensic team, was in the greenhouse. She was on her hands

and knees examining the body when Detective Inspector Snapp entered the hot, stifling space. She looked up as Snapp entered. ‘From what I can see, Jude has been dead for about four and a half hours, which puts the time of death at about nine thirty this morning.’ She sighed wearily and got up off the floor. ‘And the cause of death?’ asked Snapp. Deara answered briefly, ‘Shock.’ ‘Shock?’ Detective Inspector Snapp was astounded. ‘What do you mean, ‘shock’?’ ‘Exactly that,’ continued Deara. ‘Something shocked him so badly he had a heart attack and died. You’d better have a look at this.’ She gestured towards a series of pots in which only fat, green stalks remained. ‘These look very much like they were tulips,’ she said. Snapp stared at the plants. Her knowledge of flowers was weak, but she could see that the heads of the flowers had been neatly removed. ‘Probably with a pair of scissors or gardening secateurs,’ she thought. Suddenly she remembered something she had been told

a while ago. A chance piece of information that might, even now, help them solve this peculiar case. ‘Could Jude have been experimenting with a new type of tulip?’ she wondered aloud. Deara frowned. ‘I read in the local paper something about a rare new tulip. There is a lot of interest in gardening around here. Everyone is always trying to improve and do things with their plants and flowers.’ The two women stared at the ruined tulips. Could they have belonged to Jude? Could he have been creating a new strain of tulip to show at the Crinkley Flower and Produce Show? Had someone realized his intentions and resented them enough to kill him? ‘I wonder,’ she began, ‘if there is anyone round here so desperate to win the Crinkley Show, that they’d ruin the tulips Jude had worked so hard over?’ Deara stopped what she was doing and looked at Snapp. ‘Petunia Ponsonby?’

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What is Snapp’s full title? 2. Do you think Snapp found it easy to interview Mrs Ponsonby? Give reasons for your answer. 3. How do we know that Mrs Ponsonby is lying to the police? 4. Where was the body discovered and by whom? 5. The conversation between Deara and Snapp is short and fast moving. Why do you think the writer crafted it this way? 6. Why do you think the greenhouse is so hot? 7. If Jude died of shock, what was it that shocked him so badly? 8. Why does Detective Inspector Snapp think the tulips might be an important clue as to the cause of Jude’s death?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: experimenting evaded stifling mangled 2. What are ‘secateurs’ used for? 3. What is meant by a ‘chance piece of information’?

Extension work 1. Imagine you are Loretta and that you are giving a statement to the police. Describe what you saw and what you did upon discovering Jude’s body. 2. Write down four questions Snapp could ask Mr Ponsonby when she interviews him. 3. List all the people in the passage then say where they were and what they were doing at the time of the murder, if this is known. 5. Invent a brief character profile for each person and say whether or not they might be a suspect. 6. Imagine you are Jude, the gardener. Describe what you were doing just before you died.

The Mysterious Case of the Eukanuba Diamond I first met Doctor Akinato at the Athena Club in London’s Piccadilly. I was used to seeing eccentric ladies there, but none as strange as Doctor Akinato. It was her eyeglass which first caught my attention. Its handle flashed with a peculiar brilliance. On closer examination, I noticed it was cunningly fashioned in the shape of a serpent coiled round a stick. Its eyes were diamonds. It was these that gave off the brilliant flashes of light.

So you can imagine how surprised I was to see a completely different person when we next met, on the island of Zambo. She was almost unrecognizable. Her face was drawn and haggard, her eyes fearful and alert. The doctor had invited me to Zambo to stay in a house she had taken for the winter. Her plan was to study the reproduction of the Smaller Spotted Sea Turtle. But it was clear that she had other things on her mind.

‘That’s Doctor Akinato,’ my friend Laura said. ‘She’s just joined the club. She’s from Tutukimbo. I believe she was educated here in London, and became a naturalist. She’s fantastically wealthy, and loves diamonds – obviously.’ Laura lowered her voice discreetly. ‘Rumour has it that she is the owner of the great diamond of Eukanuba.’

‘I need your help,’ she told me in a frightened whisper, pulling me into her study and locking the door. ‘They know where I am. My life is in danger.’

‘The great diamond of Eukanuba!’ My surprise was great. That stone was the stuff of legends. Many men and women had died seeking it. To think that this slight woman in flowing purple robes was its owner! ‘Incredible, isn’t it,’ murmured my companion. ‘Come on, Naomi, I’ll introduce you, she’s a delightful person.’ The doctor had indeed been delightful. She charmed us both with her wit, intelligence and good humour. We ate a meal together and cemented our new friendship.

‘Good Lord!’ I cried. ‘Who is after you? Are you sure?’ ‘Of course I am sure,’ continued the

doctor, breathlessly. ‘They have been following me for months now. Of this I am certain. Ever since I left London they have dogged my footsteps.’ My heart began to pound unpleasantly. I could almost feel the doctor’s fear. ‘But who is following you?’ I asked. ‘And why?’ The doctor lowered her voice. ‘It is the diamond,’ she whispered. ‘The diamond?’ Doctor Akinato nodded. ‘That’s right. The Eukanuba diamond.’ She drew the curtains

and went over to the large desk that filled the centre of the room. ‘As you will know,’ she continued in an urgent voice, ‘men have killed for the hope of gaining this diamond. They will kill again unless you can help me.’ She opened a small, padded box. Inside, a stone of magnificent proportions flashed at me. The Eukanuba diamond! ‘Take it,’ she instructed. ‘You are my only hope. Take it and hide it. When the danger is past I will find you.’ But I was never to see the doctor again.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words:

1. Who is telling the story?

legend

2. Where did the storyteller first meet Doctor Akinato?

discreetly

3. How did the doctor first catch the storyteller’s eye?

humour

4. Where does the doctor come from?

brilliance

5. What do you know about Doctor Akinato’s appearance from the passage?

eccentric

6. How do we know that the doctor is not poor? 7. What very valuable possession is the doctor rumoured to own? 8. What is the doctor doing on the island of Zambo?

naturalist 2. When the doctor says,’ You are my only hope,’ what does she mean? 3. ‘They have dogged my footsteps.’ Explain what the doctor means by this.

9. At the end of the story, why is the doctor so frightened?

Extension work 1. Write a story about how Doctor Akinato acquired the diamond. 2. What do you think happens next in this story? Write the next chapter. 3. Doctor Akinato is an eccentric woman. Invent some other peculiar things she does, or says, or wears. 4. If you were a naturalist like the doctor, what animals or plants would you like to study? 5. Which short phrase tells us that the diamond is not small?

The Foreteller Casket

Our story begins when the Sirens of the Caverns of Hope decided to lend their

powers to a certain gem. The sirens set the great, purple stone on a high place and poured their knowledge into it. Then they cut it into small, perfect pieces and set

these inside a beautiful casket. The sirens locked the casket with a golden key, and

named it the Foreteller Casket, for the gems it contained could help a wise person to foretell the future and give them the power to destroy evil before it happened.

The sirens asked the mortal queen, Wagron, to keep the casket safe from the

evil Lord Grimcrake. But the dark lord’s power was great and mortal men are

weak. Grimcrake assembled a great army of the foulest creatures who set siege to Queen Wagron’s castle with rocks and fire. Many men fell defending the

Foreteller Casket. During one of the skirmishes, Wagron’s son threw the casket into the sea, rather than relinquish it to a servant of the dark lord. And so the casket was seemingly lost forever.

Many years went by, but eventually a day came when the sea decided to release its guardianship of the casket. After a particularly fierce storm, waves washed

the casket up on the shores of Eolanthine. There it was picked up by three elvan princesses, Raine, Moone and Jumar, daughters of the High Lord, Theoder.

The three princesses took their find to their father, Theoder, who immediately recognized the casket and knew its true value. He insisted that the Foreteller Casket be taken from his kingdom and returned to its rightful place in the Caverns of Hope.

‘It is not fitting that such a valuable treasure be away from its rightful home,’

Theoder explained. He ordered his daughters to take the casket across the Sea of Sighs, back to the sirens in their Caverns of Hope. Theoder gave each of his

daughters a gift to help her through the long journey. To Raine he gave a magic

bow and arrows, to Moone he gave a belt of strength and to Jumar he gave a phial of truth serum. Theoder embraced his children and gave them his blessing, then watched from the highest tower of his castle as they departed on their journey.

But all journeys carry risks, and as Theoder watched his daughters vanish into the distance, he realized he could not know when or if they would return.

Word work

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

1. Give the meaning of the following words:

1. What was the gem like in which the sirens poured their knowledge into?

siren

2. What did the sirens do with the gem once they had poured their knowledge into it?

elvan assembled

3. Why did the sirens give the casket to Queen Wagron?

guardianship

4. Why was the casket called the Foreteller Casket? 5. How did the casket end up in the sea? 6. When and how did the casket reappear on dry land?

skirmish mortal 2. If someone gives you their blessing, explain what this means.

7. Why did Theoder want to return the casket to the sirens? 8. Why do you think that sea released its guardianship of the casket?

Extension work 1. Theoder gave his daughters special gifts. What do you think each present does? 2. Imagine you are one of Theoder’s daughters. Describe your journey to the Caverns of Hope. 3. What do you think the evil lord Grimcrake would have done with the casket had he managed to get it? 4. If you found the casket, what would you do with it? 5. What do you think happens to the elvan princesses on their journey? Write the next chapter of the story. 6. Imagine you are one of the sirens. Describe how you feel when the casket is returned to you, and what you do with it. 7. Compare and contrast the language in this passage with that of ‘The Body in the Greenhouse’.

The Time Machine Ricksha watched her parents getting ready to go out. They were taking ages. She drummed her fingers impatiently on the windowsill and sneaked a look at her watch. It was eight o’clock. They should have been at the party by now. ‘Don’t you think you should be going?’ she asked pointedly. Her father looked at her. ‘You’re keen to get us out of the way tonight,’ he laughed. ‘What are you planning, a giant party?’ He laughed again. Ricksha scowled. ‘Now you will be a good girl for the babysitter, won’t you,’ said her mother. Ricksha nodded wearily. At the grand age of twelve, she was much too old for a babysitter. If it hadn’t been for her younger

sister, Shazia, Ricksha would be alone tonight, which would have suited her plans perfectly. Eventually her parents made their way downstairs to the hall. Impatience surged through Ricksha. Would they never get out of the house! ‘There’s plenty to eat in the fridge and you know where we are if there’s a problem,’ her mother told Sharon, the babysitter. ‘The girls must be in bed by ten o’clock.’ She frowned at Ricksha but Ricksha said nothing. She had other plans and they did not involve being in bed by ten o’clock! Ricksha kept waving until the taxi disappeared round the corner then she shut the door quickly. Poking her head into the sitting room she checked on Sharon and Shazia. They were sitting on the sofa watching some ghastly music show on television. Ricksha closed the sitting room door quietly and sped down to the cellar as fast as her legs would take her. The cellar door creaked alarmingly as Ricksha opened it. She switched on the light. It was an ordinary room. Against one

wall were stacked piles of old magazines and an old bookcase. In one corner was what looked like a pile of old junk. Ricksha made her way over to the pile of junk. To a casual observer there was nothing out of the ordinary in that pile, which was just what Ricksha wanted people to think. She gave a quick, furtive look behind her to check she was alone, then cleared a path towards a large, covered object. Last time she was down here she had shrouded the object in a piece of old tarpaulin to keep it from prying eyes. Carefully she pulled off the cover to reveal the object beneath. It was an old bicycle. Ricksha’s eyes blazed with excitement. She had been working secretly on the bicycle for months now, adding bits and pieces when the rest of the family had not been around. On one side of the bicycle she had attached an old motorcycle sidecar; the saddle of the bicycle had been replaced by the top of an old chair. Knobs and dials covered the front of the handlebars and an old flatscreen computer monitor and keyboard had been attached to the front of the bike. Ricksha folded the tarpaulin neatly and carefully pulled the bicycle into the middle of the

cellar. Tonight she would find out whether her hours of hard labour would pay off; whether her creation would take her back to the past and into the future. For Ricksha had been creating a time machine. It had all started when she had seen the film about a time machine. The idea had stuck in her mind and she had wondered whether she would ever be able to create something on which to travel into the future. The future intrigued Ricksha. It was a mysterious place and she was determined to find out more about it. She was keen to find out about her personal destiny. Gingerly, she sat on the chair and tossed a small rucksack into the sidecar. The rucksack contained a number of important items Ricksha felt she might need in the event of ‘difficulties’: food, repair tools, a change of clothes, paper, pens and other bits and pieces. Ricksha pressed the knobs and turned the dials. The machine whirred into life. Ricksha’s heart beat faster with excitement. So far, so good! She turned her attention to the screen, and keyed in her required date and destination. Ricksha had thought very carefully about where she would like to travel first. Being cautious, she had decided it would be better to travel somewhere not too dangerous. She was keen to

go back to the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857 and find out more about that, but she had decided on a less hazardous adventure for a first trip: a quick visit to the jungle to see some gorillas and then back again. She keyed in the previous day’s date and her destination and watched the machine glow and pulse with life. Ricksha trembled in excitement. Just then, the cellar door creaked open! Ricksha looked up in shock. A small face peered at her from the doorway. It was Shazia! ‘Shazia,’ hissed Ricksha, crossly. ‘What are you doing here?’ Shazia made her way carefully through the cellar towards the Time Machine. ‘I knew you were up to something and I wanted to find out what.’ She pointed to the time machine. ‘What’s that?’ ‘It’s a time machine,’ replied Ricksha crossly, wondering what on earth to do now. Shazia’s face lit up with excitement. ‘Ooooh!’ she breathed. ‘How fantastic. Where are you going? Can I come with you?’ Ricksha stared at her. ‘What do you know about time machines?’ she asked. ‘You’re only seven.’ Shazia pouted. ‘Of course I know about time machines,’ she retorted. ‘Where are you going?’

‘I was planning on going to the jungle to see some gorillas,’ replied Ricksha icily, ‘but you’ve messed up my chances of doing anything tonight. Go back to Sharon! I’ll be back in the morning.’ Shazia eyed her sister beadily. ‘You’re not going without me. If you do, I’ll tell Mum and Dad what you’ve been up to. Besides I bet it won’t work.’ Ricksha glared at her sister. If she made a fuss, they would have Sharon down here in no time at all. ‘Oh very well,’ she snapped, ‘but you’ve to do exactly what I say and you’re not to wriggle around.’ Shazia hopped into the sidecar, her face red with excitement. She watched wide-eyed as Ricksha checked her knobs and dials, checked the date on the screen and then pressed a large green button just above her knees. The machine whirred and glowed and then to their surprise the cellar seemed to fade away. Ricksha clutched the handlebars as a blast of cold air hit them and then passed away. Suddenly things came back into focus. As the mists around them evaporated they could see huge trees. There were plants everywhere and the sound of creatures and insects calling and clicking to one another. Underfoot the ground was soft and leafy. ‘It worked!’ breathed Ricksha. ‘We’re in the jungle.’

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Where has Ricksha hidden her invention? 2. What has Ricksha used to make her invention? 3. How did Ricksha get the idea to make her time machine? 4. Why do you think Ricksha has waited for her parents to leave the house before trying out her invention? 5. Where is Ricksha planning to travel? Why has she chosen this particular destination? 6. What particular historical event would Ricksha like to find out more about? 7. Why does Ricksha allow her sister to join her?

Extension work 1. Do you think the jungle is a good choice of destination for a first trip? Where would you choose to go for your first journey into the future or past? 2. If you could put five extra items in Ricksha’s rucksack to help her on her journey, what would you put in and why? 3. What will happen to Ricksha and Shazia in the jungle? Write the next chapter of this story. 4. Ricksha is keen to find out about her personal destiny. What do you think this means? What advantages and disadvantages would there be in finding out about your personal destiny? 5. What difficulties do you think Ricksha might encounter if she tries going back in time? 6. Turn the passage into play format so that it is mainly a discussion/ dialogue between Ricksha and Shazia.

Word work Give the meaning of the following words: impatiently gingerly evaporated hazardous

Topleigh Manor

Topleigh Manor lies in the heart of Oxfordshire, just outside the hamlet of Topleigh-on-the-Wold. Topleigh was given to Lord William Gravescone by Elizabeth I for loyal service to the crown, and during Lord William’s lifetime the manor was visited by many famous individuals. Queen Elizabeth herself stayed there to enjoy the hunting, and William Shakespeare is said to have conceived his ideas for Twelfth Night while spending Christmas there. In the Civil War, Lord William’s grandson repaid the kindness his family had been shown by royalty. Topleigh Manor provided a safe haven for the young prince, later King Charles II, in his flight from the anti-royalist Roundheads. After the restoration of the monarchy, Charles II gave a huge silver salver to the Gravescones. This can now be seen on the panelled wall of the dining room. In the 1920s Topleigh Manor fell into disrepair. This was mostly due to the excesses of the tenth Lord Gravescone, known as Custar, who spent much of his time in London and Europe, gambling away the family’s inheritance. Custar is said to have developed an interest in the occult, and when he was in Oxfordshire he held parties in the manor, where séances and black magic are rumoured to have taken place. Topleigh Manor might have been lost forever to the Gravescone family had it not been for the prudent

management of Lady Cynthia, Custar’s wife. After the death of Custar (who was run over by a taxi in Paris while intoxicated) Lady Cynthia made some much-needed changes. She immediately cut back on unnecessary expenses and reduced staff numbers. A year later, Lady Cynthia opened the manor house and gardens to the public, and started to regenerate the home farm. Today, Lady Cynthia’s grandson, Reggie Mortimer Topleigh, runs the manor. The gardens have been restored and now include a wild rose garden, a walled vegetable garden, an Italian terrace  (where the tearooms are situated), and many beds of herbs and flowers. The home farm is now a thriving business, with a farm shop selling sheep milk and cheese, and rugs made from the wool of the miniature Sharp-horned goat. The manor can be booked for weddings, and is becoming a popular venue for this purpose. A new enterprise, ghost weekends, are planned for next year. These will feature two nights in the elegant, comfortable bedrooms, three meals a day, and evening walks in the gardens to search for haunted spots where ghosts may, if you are lucky, show themselves.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. How did the Gravescone family acquire Topleigh Manor? 2. Why did Queen Elizabeth visit Topleigh? 3. How did Topleigh Manor help the young prince who later became King Charles II? 4. Why did the manor fall into disrepair? 5. Who saved the manor, and how? 6. How does the manor bring in an income nowadays? 7. What will you do if you go to Topleigh Manor for a ghost weekend? 8. List three ‘unnecessary expenses’ you think might have been incurred.

Word work Give the meaning of the following words: intoxicated salver prudent royalist disrepair venue

Extension work 1. You have been appointed Reggie’s manager. Suggest three new ways of making money for Topleigh Manor. 2. One of the priests hiding at Topleigh wrote about his experience on a piece of parchment which was then lost for many years. It was finally discovered a few years ago, concealed behind a wood panel. Imagine you are that priest and describe what happened on that dreadful day when you had to hide at Topleigh. 3. If you could interview Lady Cynthia for a major newspaper, what questions would you ask her about her life? 4. What else could Reggie offer as part of his ghost weekends, to make them even more exciting?

Trouble at the Bunbury Bloater Club I often visit the Bunbury Bloater Club at weekends. After a busy afternoon on the river bank I enjoy the chance to slump in my favourite armchair, a large, spicy tomato juice in my hand. Maeve Pumfrey often used to join me for a drink, and of course we usually ended up discussing the joys and tribulations of fishing. The night in question, there was no Maeve, so I settled down with my drink to read the Bunbury Times. I must have dozed off, and when I awoke, there was shouting out in reception. The noise startled me – raised voices were rarely heard at the Bunbury. I went to peep through the door and to my great surprise saw that it was Maeve Pumfrey who was doing the shouting. She was wearing a large chicken costume and was carrying a bow and arrows. I could see the club’s chair, Mary Goosesnottle, trying hard to placate her, but to no avail. As I watched, Maeve charged at the enormous portrait of the club founder which hung over the fireplace in the hall. With a bellow of rage, she fired an arrow into the founder’s head and then ran around the table in the centre of the hall, clucking. She then charged wildly into the dining

room, upsetting a table on which a tureen of soup had been placed. The soup gushed everywhere, sending waiters rushing for cloths. Angry mutterings could be heard from the other diners as Maeve began firing more arrows into the walls and tables. I went over to Mary. ‘She’s gone nutty, Fred,’ she whispered. ‘I think she’s been drinking that stuff again.’ I stared at her in confusion. ‘What “stuff”?’ ‘She buys it in a little herbalist’s shop in the back streets of Manchester,’ she answered. Mary went on to tell me how she knew about the potion. ‘We got talking one evening last year. She showed me this little bottle and said she drank a spoonful now and then. She says it helps her to catch the largest fish in the river, and she swears that it gives her other special powers!’

I was astonished. Maeve had always seemed a very reasonable woman to me. Why on earth had she been taken in like that? ‘Good grief! What special powers does she think it gives her?’ Mary swallowed and, when she finally spoke, her voice was hushed. ‘She says it helps her to … to see into the future. But I think it does other things.’ I fell silent. How on earth could Maeve

imagine that a small bottle of some liquid could make her good at catching fish, and able to see into the future? We both jumped as a terrific crash came from the dining room, followed by shouts from the diners. Mayhem seemed to be in progress. I made my way swiftly to the entrance and braced myself. It was time that someone stopped Maeve Pumfrey!

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What hobby do Fred and Maeve share? 2. Which phrase tells us that the club is normally a quiet place? 3. When Fred looks through the door into reception, what does he see? 4. Who is Mary Goosesnottle? 5. What does Maeve think gives her special powers? 6. What special powers does Maeve believe she has? 7. In your own words describe the distruption Maeve is causing.

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: bloater bellow tureen tribulation placate braced 2. ‘Raised voices were rarely heard at the Bunbury.’ What does this mean?

8. How do we know that the other diners are not happy with the situation?

Extension work 1. What do you think makes the Bunbury Bloater Club special for people there? 2. What do you think will happen next to Maeve Pumfrey and the other people at the club? Write the next chapter of the story. 3. Imagine you are one of the people eating dinner at the club. Write a short letter to the Bunbury Times about the unseemly behaviour of Maeve Pumfrey. 4. Imagine you are the herbalist who created Maeve’s potion. Describe what you put into your mixture and how you made it. What, if anything, does the mixture really do?

The Mysterious Case of the Eukanuba Diamond Continues …MMMM Doctor Akinato had frightened me terribly. Quite suddenly, I wished I had never met her. I did not want my quiet, ordered life to be shattered and turned upside-down by a jewel, no matter how fabulous. But the doctor’s eyes, beseeching and desperate, held mine. ‘Naomi, you are my only hope,’ she repeated. ‘The only person I can trust to return the diamond to its rightful home.’ ‘But who wants the Eukanuba diamond so badly they are prepared to kill for it?’ I asked, lowering my voice. The colour drained from the doctor’s face until it was deathly white. ‘My mother,’ she replied. I sat up in shock. Had I heard correctly? What madness was this? ‘Your mother?’ I questioned. Doctor Akinato nodded and her hands shook. Grasping her glass, she drained it quickly. ‘Forgive me, my friend.’ She smiled weakly. ‘It sounds fantastic, I know, but you must believe me. At least let me explain. You have come far, and if the

diamond’s fate is to be in your hands you deserve to hear the whole story. ‘For many years my mother was a good woman, and a friend to all. That was until she met Professor Ravioli. As soon as she introduced us I felt he was my enemy. An aura of menace clung strongly to him and I knew without doubt that he had my mother in his clutches. I begged her to end her friendship with the professor but she

refused. She told me he gave her an interest in life. ‘Then, one night, I found out more about Professor Ravioli. It was on the night of the Rainbow Ball, at my villa outside Florence. I knew most of the guests but some were unfamiliar. I guessed they were friends of the professor. I was right. ‘They waited until the other guests had departed then made their way to the lake. I followed them secretly, concealing myself behind a statue. To my dismay, I realized that Professor Ravioli was part of the Crocodile cult, an ancient organization that follows the Way of the Tooth. Watching them was horrible … horrible.’ Doctor Akinato wiped her streaming forehead and poured herself a fresh glass of port. She struggled to compose herself. ‘One of them removed his own false teeth and they set fire to them on a lily pad. Then they danced wildly around the lake gnashing their teeth. Next, they circled the lake, chanting, while Professor Ravioli and my mother threw themselves into the water clad only in crocodile skins. It was terrible. I could watch no more, so great was my

disgust. My mother, dressed as a crocodile. It must have been my mother who told him about the diamond in my possession. ‘He approached me the following night whilst I was reading quietly in the library. He offered me a huge sum of money for the diamond, but I refused. I knew that once inserted in the skin of the ancient crocodile, Crocodopolus, the gem would acquire deadly powers. My mother also knew that. ‘Later that night, Professor Ravioli fell from the villa’s tower. I ran to where his body lay, but found my mother already there. In her hands was the Eukanuba diamond. The professor must have stolen the diamond from me, and now she in her turn had stolen it from him. A terrible smile lit up her face. “The Way of the Tooth has a new Grand Master,” she laughed hysterically. “Me!” ‘As she was dancing round in triumph I grabbed the diamond from her. She fought and fought but though I am small I am stronger than her. I kept hold of the diamond and have been hiding it in a safe place ever since. But now she is after it again.’

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Who does the doctor think is after the diamond? 2. When did the character of Doctor Akinato’s mother change? 3. Who threw themselves into the lake and what were they wearing? 4. How did the professor try to get the Eukanuba diamond from the doctor? 5. How did the professor actually get hold of the Eukanuba diamond? 6. How did the doctor’s mother get the diamond from the professor? 7. If the diamond is put inside the skin of the ancient crocodile, Crocodopolus, what will happen to it?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: menace rightful clad unfamiliar 2. ‘Professor Ravioli had the doctor’s mother in his clutches.’ What does the doctor mean by this phrase? 3. What words are used to show that Professor Ravioli is not a good man?

Extension work 1. Describe Doctor Akinato’s mother before and after she met Professor Ravioli. 2. Naomi, the storyteller, appears to be the only person who can help Doctor Akinato. Why do you think this might be? 3. If you were Naomi, hearing this story from Doctor Akinato, what would you do to help her? 4. If Doctor Akinato’s mother gets the diamond and inserts it into the skin of the crocodile, Crocodopolus, it will acquire deadly powers. Describe what you think these powers are. 5. If you had a diamond with magic powers, what would you like them to be?

Game Ranger Diaries

Monday 18th June

Someone has been stealing bones again. Nambo told me he had discovered a small hole under the perimeter fence and was sure it was man-made. There were no animal marks, the ground was smooth and looked as if someone had dug it out using a flat, sharp tool. I checked the store house, and some of the old antelope bones are missing together with some buffalo horns.

We think someone is using the bones for medicine. It costs a fortune to repair the fence but we don’t want all the animals escaping. Tomorrow Dingane is coming over to the reserve to have a look at Ramu’s shoulder. The old lion’s wound looks pretty deep and rather unpleasant. Marian thinks he may have got it fighting the two young males. Ramu was probably trying to assert his authority by putting the youngsters in their place, only he got more than he bargained for. He has hardly

moved since this morning. He is lying under the trees and it’s obvious that the wound is causing him distress. In this heat it will get infected so we need to treat it as fast as possible. We are going to get Marian to dart him so that Dingane can treat the wound and give Ramu some antibiotics. It should be a pretty routine operation, providing the rest of the pride don’t get in the way! We’ll do it in situ so we don’t have to move him. That would be traumatic for him. Tuesday 19th June

Operation went well. Wednesday 20th June

The Wokitap pride have a new litter of cubs, which is very exciting news. Nambo and I saw them yesterday near the lagoon with their mother, Akira, who has been keeping them hidden. There are four of them, two girls and two boys. They all look fit and well. So does Akira. She seems very contented and sleek. The cubs must be at least two months old so it won’t be long before their mum introduces them to the rest of the pride. The cubs were having a great time, climbing trees and chasing each other’s tails. They are lively little creatures and it is great to know that the Wokitap pride is flourishing. Checked up on Ramu, who seems to

be doing nicely and has now moved away from the trees. He is moving much more easily and looks quite relaxed. This is good news because Marian spotted the two young males about four miles away on the other side of the marsh. She thinks they might threaten the Wokitaps so Ramu needs to be fit and healthy to protect his family and prevent a takeover. Tuesday 26th June

The Wokitap pride brought down a giraffe last night. Marian and I were doing the rounds last night when we heard something crashing about in the bushes. We quickly switched off the headlights of the jeep. Just in time too, for a huge male giraffe galloped in front of the jeep with at least four Wokitap females in hot pursuit. They chased it into the bushes and brought it down easily within a few hundred feet of us. In the morning we revisited the spot. We found the remains of a few bones, and frightened off a few vultures that were ripping at them. The state of the bones told us that it wasn’t only the lions who had had a good meal last night — the hyenas and jackals feasted too. I heard today that Pemba and Serafina Barlow have adopted a new cheetah cub from the Shishwa Cheetah Breeding Sanctuary. They want to raise it and return it to the wild like they did their last cheetah, Oliver. Oliver was returned to the wild and did well for at least three years until he was caught by lions and killed. Let’s hope that this new

cheetah will manage longer than three years. The Shishwa Sanctuary apparently have a new baby king cheetah! These cheetahs are very rare so the sanctuary folk are very excited. Their breeding programme is going well. Wednesday 27th June

Received confirmation last night that Mr Lewis will be coming out next month to hunt the old eland bull. Marian’s very unhappy that we are allowing hunting on the reserve but I reminded her that this will bring in money we need to protect and sustain the rest of the reserve. She knows that the old bull will gradually starve to death. It seems to me to be kinder to put him out of his misery quickly rather than allow him to die a long and lingering death from starvation. I think her major concern is that hunting will become a regular feature of the reserve. I must reassure her that this will not be the case. Saturday 30th June

The Wokitaps pride were attacked last night. They are scattered. We have no idea where Ramu is.

Word work

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Who do you think has been writing the diary?

Give the meaning of the following words: pride of lions infected

2. Why has someone been stealing bones?

starvation

3. What kind of animal is Ramu?

confirmation

4. How might Ramu have got wounded?

sanctuary

5. Why is it important that Ramu recovers? 6. Why is Marian unhappy about Mr Lewis’ arrival? 7. How is Mr Lewis’ arrival going to help the reserve? 8. Saturday 30th June is a bleak day for the Wokitaps. What do you think happened the night before?

Extension work 1. Imagine you are a game ranger. Describe what work you think you might have to do on the reserve. 2. Write the next entry for the diary describing what has happened on the reserve. 3. Why might the rest of the pride get in the way of Ramu’s operation? 4. Imagine you are Ramu. Describe what happened on the night of 29th June. 5. What work does the Cheetah Breeding Sanctuary do? 6. Imagine you work at the Cheetah Breeding Sanctuary. What could you do to make sure tourists have heard of the sanctuary? 7. What difficulties do you think Pemba and Serafina Barlow might have in raising their new cheetah cub?

Trick or Treat We could not see Mr Brown but we knew he was there. A thin, pale beam of light shone through a chink in the curtains, and a wisp of grey smoke trickled from the chimney. Otherwise, the gloomy, old house was dark and forbidding, and the front garden a wilderness of brambles. Ivy smothered the cracked and broken brickwork, twisting its way up the walls until it reached the top of the roof. You would never guess the path to the house had once been flanked by a pretty little garden. My nan remembered a time when flowers grew in neat beds either side of the path, and the tiny emerald lawn was cut close. She’d told us about how she passed the house on her way to school,

and always stopped to admire the birds fluttering around the stone bird table, sipping water or splashing their feathers. ‘Let’s go home,’ whispered Declan, his pale, white face peeping out from behind a bush. ‘I don’t like it here!’ ‘We can’t,’ replied Jasmine, squinting through a mass of thorns. ‘We said we’d try this house and we can’t go back on it. Besides, Reece promised us all his sweets if we did. All you have to do is ring the doorbell.’ ‘But I don’t want to ring the doorbell,’ Declan replied, his eyes swelling with tears. Jasmine glared at him. ‘You have to. You’re the youngest. If you don’t, the goblins will get you and drag you into their caverns deep under the ground.’ I frowned at Jasmine. ‘There are no such things as goblins, Declan,’ I soothed. ‘Come on, we’ll go together.’ ‘Hurry up then, Hannah,’ snapped Jasmine. ‘I want to go trick or treating at all the other houses.’ I took my little brother’s hand. He was trembling violently. ‘He won’t

eat us, Hannah, will he?’ Declan whispered, his eyes wide with fright. I shook my head, smiling encouragingly. Inside I was just as scared as Declan. There were many rumours about Mr Brown in the area. No one knew much about him. He kept to himself and was hardly ever seen out. There were no visitors at No 35. Some people said Mr Brown was a wizard who stole cats and turned them into mice, to be eaten by other cats. Others said he had been in jail for killing a man. But these were just rumours.

Trembling violently, Declan and I crept up to the dark house. Suddenly, quite without warning, the front door opened. Someone tall and hunched towered over us in the doorway. Frozen with fright we looked up. A man stared down at us. The light from the hallway lit up his features and we could see he was smiling. One gnarled, old hand clutched a walking stick whilst the other held out a small bowl filled with what looked like sweets. It was Mr Brown. ‘Trick or treat?’ he asked in a gentle voice.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words:

1. Who is telling the story?

gnarled

2. Which special event are the children celebrating? How do we know this?

gloomy

3. Why are the children at the house?

hunched

4. Why is Hannah scared? 5. How do the children know that Mr Brown is in the house? 6. What does Jasmine say will happen to Declan if he does not do as he is told? 7. At the end of the passage, what do we learn about Mr Brown?

2. Find some words which suggest that the house does not look a happy place. 3. Find six nouns from the passage. 4. Find six adjectives from the passage. 5. Find four verbs from the passage.

8. How do we know that the house once had a beautiful front garden?

Extension work 1. In your own words, describe what message you think the passage is trying to convey. 2. Why do you think people pass on rumours about Mr Brown? 3. Do you think passing on rumours is a kind thing to do? Why do you think that? 4. Imagine you are Mr Brown. Tell your old friend Mr Green about the evening’s events. 5. Imagine you are Hannah. Tell your nan about your visit to Mr Brown’s house.

Treason! Chancellor Mercy looked grave. His job was not a pleasant one. His steps became slower and slower as he approached the council chamber. Two guards stood in attendance on either side of the vast wooden door, their faces bland and immobile. Chancellor Mercy nodded briefly at them and they opened the door quickly. The Chancellor entered and the door closed noiselessly behind him. King Frederick was seated at a large desk under a window. He was alone. Behind him, the early afternoon sunlight streamed through stained glass, flooding the room with a brilliant, coloured warmth. The sun lit up the paintings on the wooden, panelled walls and a large tapestry above the fireplace. Mercy bowed low and the king looked up. His face appeared much older than it was. Lines covered his brow and shadows smudged his eyes; his hair, once dark, was liberally speckled with grey. ‘Have they come to a decision?’ the king asked. Chancellor Mercy nodded. ‘They have, sire.’ ‘And the verdict?’

Mercy swallowed hard. ‘It was guilty.’ Delicately he placed a large piece of parchment before his sovereign and bowed low. Silence filled the room. King Frederick stared at the parchment. The writing on it was still damp and at the bottom was a space which awaited his signature and seal. ‘Leave me,’ he told Chancellor Mercy abruptly. ‘I wish to be alone.’ The Chancellor nodded and left quietly. He understood the king’s request. It was not every day that a trusted friend was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. King Frederick ignored the

parchment and rose stiffly from his chair. The fire beckoned invitingly and he had need of its warmth, for a great chill had descended upon him. ‘Guilty,’ he thought, and pain ripped at his heart. ‘Guilty of treason.’ He sank wearily into the small armchair beside the fire and put his head in his hands. Grief overwhelmed him. How could a childhood friend and companion be guilty of treason? At first he had not believed the evidence. It had been lies to frame an innocent man and discredit him in the eyes of his monarch. But the letters, the

documents … There had been no doubt in anyone’s mind that Lord Cecil Harvey was guilty of plotting to kill the king.

lifelong friend, with whom he had shared the burdens of kingship, proved to be no friend after all.

‘He wanted to kill me. But why?’

There was a knock at the door.

Cecil Harvey had everything. Land. Money. Titles. The ear of the king. Cecil’s daughter had married the king’s nephew and his wife was lady-in-waiting to the queen. He had everything …

‘Enter,’ commanded the King. Two guards appeared, with a tall man between them. Lord Cecil Harvey.

King Frederick pulled the bell-rope and a servant appeared.

King Frederick stared at the man who had been his friend. There were manacles on his wrists and a bruise, purple and swollen, on his left temple, but otherwise he stood proud and tall, his face smooth and inscrutable.

‘Bring Lord Cecil Harvey here,’ he commanded. ‘I wish to speak to him.’

‘Leave us!’ King Frederick told the guards. ‘I would speak to Lord Cecil alone.’

King Frederick stared at the fire. Kingship carried with it too many burdens. Round every corner there was someone who wished him ill. His father had warned him of this: ‘You will always be alone’. How true those words were. Now even his

For a short while neither man spoke.

everything, so why had he done it?

‘So it has come to this,’ began King Frederick in a flat voice. ‘Why? Tell me why? I thought we were friends … good friends. Why did you do it?’ Lord Cecil stared unflinchingly at him.

‘I envied you,’ he answered simply. The king looked uncomprehendingly at him. ‘You … envied me? But you had everything! You were my companion, my friend. You had money, titles, land … and you say you envied me!’ A brief spasm of pain flickered over Lord Cecil’s face. ‘I wanted more than you could give me … I wanted the throne.’ King Frederick looked at his old friend and the pain within him twisted bright and deep. ‘You committed treason. The penalty is death. You must have known that before you began. The risks you took were formidable. How could you believe you would succeed?’ Lord Cecil gave a faint smile. ‘It seems I misjudged your people, sire. I was arrogant enough to believe they would welcome a change of monarch. I was wrong. It is clearly you they love, not me.’

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words:

1. Explain what treason is.

manacles

2. Why do you think the chancellor is reluctant to see the king?

envied

3. How does King Frederick view kingship?

misjudged

4. The chancellor puts a piece of parchment in front of the king. What do you think it actually is?

discredit

5. ‘“Leave me,” he told Chancellor Mercy abruptly. “I wish to be alone.”’ Why do you think that King Frederick wishes to be alone? 6. Why does Lord Cecil Harvey commit treason? 7. How did the king initially view the evidence against Lord Cecil?

penalty 2. ‘Kingship carried with it too many burdens.’ What do you think is meant by this statement? 3. If you have ‘the ear of the king’, what does this mean?

8. What do we learn about Lord Cecil’s character from the passage?

Extension work 1. Do you think committing treason could ever be justified? 2. What makes a childhood friend special? 3. What do you think King Frederick will do next? 4. If you were king/queen, and someone had committed treason against you, what action would you take? 5. Write a dialogue between the king and his wife in which they discuss Lord Cecil’s treason. 6. Describe the qualities you think make for a good monarch. 7. Ceil Harvey has everything. From the passage describe what he has.

Achievement Sitting outside his garden shed, with the warm October sun filtering through the trees, Adrian Pottle looked back on his life and wondered what he had achieved. Tomorrow he would be fifty years old. Fifty! Half a century. And what had he to show for it? Very little, he feared. Very little at all.

of tall sunflowers faced the last rays of autumn sun, basking in its glow. ‘Where did all the time go?’ He sighed. ‘What have I achieved?’ He looked towards the house. He could see his wife, Charlotte, writing at her desk in the window, while Buster the cat sat on the window sill, watching the birds on the fence intently.

Compared with his peers, he had achieved nothing at all. Most of his friends had fulfilled or even exceeded their ambitions. Naomi Evans had not only aspired to being a doctor, she had become a brilliant brain surgeon and made a small fortune. David  (Tooter) Soames had wanted to be a train driver. But he hadn’t. He became an astronaut. And Daisy McClaren was doing something terribly important in the government. She had regular meetings with the prime minister and was always going abroad.

It was only a small house, in a rather scruffy area of Liverpool. Charlotte worked as a teacher in the local primary school. Adrian had a job as a carer in a home for elderly, disabled people. He’d been there for thirty years. There had been many times when he had considered changing his career, moving on to something bigger and better, especially after a particularly rough day. Then he looked at the faces of some of the people there, people who relied on his help and support, and changed his mind. Every time he organized an evening sing-along or a cards night or bingo, and watched the old faces light up with laughter, his heart had filled with satisfaction.

‘But what have I done?’ thought Adrian lamely, staring at the fence where a group

And now he was fifty years old. The hair on his head was nearly grey. There were lines on his face and his tummy had grown fatter. ‘What have I achieved?’ he mused again. At the end of the day it all depended on how you viewed achievement. Daisy McClaren had achieved an awful lot. She’d just taken her entire family to the

Maldives for an expensive holiday. They’d hired a yacht and sailed around the small islands fishing and snorkeling. Adrian couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone anywhere exotic. His family had always gone to the seaside in the summer, to a town in Devon where the children had run around and made sandcastles. Daisy was always going to exotic places. Naomi had done brilliantly as a brain surgeon. She was always attending smart functions and speaking at conferences. She divided her time between operations and writing important papers for various medical journals. Adrian’s eyes wandered slowly around the tiny garden. Even though it was small, it was beautiful. Years of careful nurturing had changed a once bleak yard to this small haven of peace where the birds feasted happily on an abundance of berries, and bees and butterflies busily visited every flower.

grown up now. Lucas was a teacher like his mother, while Emma was training to be a dentist. She hoped to have her own practice one day. They’d had their ups and downs, their joys and disappointments but both of them had turned out all right. Adrian felt pride surge through him when he thought of his children. A gentle hand dropped on to his shoulder. Adrian opened his eyes abruptly. It was Charlotte. Charlotte hadn’t changed a great deal. She still looked much as she had when they first met on the seafront in Exmouth. Of course, she had a few grey hairs now, and wrinkles creased her cheeks, but there was still the old twinkle in her eyes and the same smile on her lips. He took her hand and squeezed it as she sat down beside him. They too had had their difficulties, but love and respect had carried them through the hard times and they still had each other.

The house, once a broken wreck, had gradually risen like a phoenix from a fire, and was now a solid home. It had taken them years to build it up from its stricken state into this neat, clean dwelling but they had done it all themselves.

Suddenly he realized how much he had achieved.

Adrian closed his eyes and felt the sun warm his cheeks. He smiled and thought of his children, Emma and Lucas. They were

Adrian Pottle leant back against the garden shed and counted his blessings.

He hadn’t reached the moon and the stars and he never would, but he had so many other things for which to be grateful.

Word work

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

1. Give the meaning of the following words:

1. How old will Adrian Pottle be soon? 2. In which season is the passage set? 3. What job does Adrian do and how long has he done it? 4. How does Adrian feel about his job? 5. What nickname is David Soames known by? Do you think it is appropriate? 6. How does Adrian compare himself to Daisy? 7. Who are Adrian’s children, and what do they do?

scruffy

expensive

exotic

abundance

2. Explain what is meant by: Adrian’s friends ‘have exceeded their ambitions.’ 3. Adrian’s house has risen ‘like a phoenix from a fire.’ What does this mean? 4. Give another word which means the same as: compared rough

8. Which phrase tells us that Adrian has achieved a great deal and is grateful?

Extension work 1. List all the things you think Adrian Pottle has achieved. 2. What would you like to do when you are grown up? 3. If Adrian Pottle had changed his career, what do you think he might have done and why? 4. If you were asked to organize an event for the elderly people at Adrian’s home, what would you plan for them? 5. Imagine you are one of the elderly people in the home where Adrian works. Describe Adrian and how he has made life better for you. 6. Buster the cat has seen many changes to Adrian’s house. Imagine you are Buster and write about the change which annoyed, or pleased, you the most. 7. If you worked with the prime minister, what would you like to discuss with him or her that you feel is important in the world?

The Diary of Lord Ambrose Pagett The Ninepins Club was virtually deserted when I arrived. There had been a large party the night before which ran into the early hours of the morning. The staff were still clearing up when I arrived so I took my mid-morning coffee in the reading room. Tuesday 17th December, 1721

Monday 16th December, 1721 I encountered the boy who cleans the grates today. Neville. A strange child, probably no more than ten years old, with the most peculiar eyes I have ever seen, one being golden and the other pale blue. I think I must have frightened the lad, for he ran off without even bidding me ‘good morning’. Still, it was an interesting experience to meet one of the youngest members of the town house staff. I breakfasted early and read the papers. Some highwayman has struck again on the common and taken Edith Edgerton’s diamonds. After breakfast I had the carriage brought round and made my way to the Ninepins Club. We were delayed on the way due to some woman having been knocked down by a coach and four. Toaster, the coachman, later told me the woman had just run out in front of the horses. It cost her her life, it would appear.

Attended Lady Penelope Richdale’s ball last night. It was quite the most vulgar affair. She had a giant fountain in the centre of her marble entrance hall. This monstrosity was flowing with cream and rose petals. I noticed that the servants were using jugs to scoop out the cream, which they then poured over the fruit salad laid out in the dining room. Clearly there was some sort of theme, which was quite hard to fathom, for a mixture of pink hearts were liberally scattered everywhere along with odd looking sea serpents. They twined around every painting and lamp like great, green slugs. There were even lurid pink lanterns set in every part of the mansion, each holding a small candle. My immediate thought was the danger of fire and prayed no one would be so careless as to knock one over. The foolish Lady Penelope allowed her dogs to come to the party. Annoying small, yapping creatures with the most ghastly blue and orange bows around their necks. Such over indulged animals! They are so fat they can barely walk. They are more like sausages on legs than small dogs. Someone had been misguided enough to

leave a footstool beside the cream fountain. I watched them take turns to stand on it and lap the cream. Most vile, and quite unhygienic.

was quite charmed by his courteous behaviour and the elegance of his manner. I consider him to be not at all conceited.

I stayed but an hour, paid my respects to Lady Penelope and then left for Randalls. Lord Arnold was betting for such high stakes, the place was in a state of nervous tension lest the bank be broken. Tommy Braithwaite and Eustace Cribbs had both dropped out. You should have heard the roar when the cards were turned over. The house won the day, much to Lord Arnold’s great disappointment. He lost over two thousand pounds, and his favourite horse Red Pepper, yet he showed no emotion at his loss.

Anthony Beaver went for a late night stroll in the grounds and fell into the lake. Thankfully the lake is not deep and he was able to swim to the island in the centre and take shelter in Lady Petunia’s Grecian temple. On Saturday the temperature plummeted and it snowed. Fires were lit in most of the rooms and we amused ourselves by playing charades and listening to various musical renditions from the ladies. I found myself to be quite charmed by Miss Amelia Whelkin, who not only played the pianoforte sublimely, but sang most sweetly too. Her father is Charles Oliver Whelkin, an industrialist who spent a long time out in the Indies. Miss Whelkin has just recently returned from a tour around Italy.

Monday 23rd December, 1721 I had the very great pleasure of spending the weekend with my dear old friends, Lady Petunia Gray and her husband Bertie at their rural retreat down in Hampshire. Much of their land is farmed by local tenant farmers, but some of it is given over to the deer park and Lady Petunia’s horses. Lady Petunia had quite a gathering. On Friday night we were entertained by the celebrated Mr Jenkins himself who read us a number of his poems. This delighted many of the ladies present. I had heard that he was a conceited fellow, but

Upon my return to London, I was informed by Hawkins, my butler, that the Honourable Percival Soames was waiting for me in the library. The hour was late and I was ready for my bed but I took myself to the library where I found Percy looking most dishevelled, with his cape all askew and his shoes muddied. I asked him what ailed him. He looked desperate and begged me for assistance. He said he had just killed a man.

Questions

Extension work

Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

1. Why do you think some people keep a diary?

1. Do you think Lord Ambrose works for his living? Give examples from the text to justify your response.

2. Which entry do you find the most interesting? Give reasons for your answer.

2. What do you learn about Lord Ambrose’s lifestyle from his diary?

3. What do you think Lord Ambrose most disliked about Lady Richdale’s ball? What would you have most liked or disliked about the ball?

3. How did Edith Edgerton lose her diamonds? 4. In which county is Lady Petunia’s country retreat? 5. Describe some of the ways that the guests entertain themselves at Lady Petunia’s. 6. What do you think Randalls could be and what activity is pursued there? 7. What has happened to Lord Arnold? Why do you think he shows no emotion at his loss?

Word work Give the meaning of the following words: encountered vulgar monstrosity annoying indulged

4. Lord Ambrose writes about the boy who cleans the grates. What do you think his words tell us about the life of a servant in the eighteenth century? 5. Imagine you are Lord Ambrose. Write a diary entry for Monday 30th December, 1721. 6. We are told that the Honorable Percival Soames has just ‘killed a man’. Imagine you are Percival, describe the events that led up to the killing. What do you think happened and why? 7. What do you think Lord Ambrose will do next? Do you think he will help/ not help Percival? How? 8. Write Lord Ambrose’s next diary entry after hearing about what Percival has done. 9. Write a first person account of how Anthony Beaver fell in the lake and how he managed to get to safety.

The Honourable Percival Soames Percival clutched his brandy glass in his hands and stared at Lord Ambrose with a haggard face. .

‘I never meant to kill him,’ he began in a low, desperate voice. ‘It was an accident. I lost my temper. You know my wretched temper always lets me down; I can never control it.’ ‘I don’t know who on earth he was. I’d never seen him before. He was in the stables waiting for me when I got home. He said he wanted money for his silence. I couldn’t think what he was talking about because I’ve done nothing wrong. Then I realized he must have meant my brother, Arthur. We look very alike. He must have mistaken Arthur for me. You know how Arthur’s always getting into scrapes and the family spends a lot of time trying to sort them out. This must have been a serious mess because the man accused me of cheating … cheating at cards.’ Percival took a large gulp of brandy and stared helplessly at Lord Ambrose. ‘I was horrified. I told him to get off my land or I’d call the

police and then he threatened me. He said he’d get the law on to me and have me arrested and he’d tell the club that I was a cheat and a fraud. I could hardly tell him it was my brother he had seen cheating because he would have gone and started blackmailing Arthur.’ ‘He got really nasty, started waving a small knife around and saying that if I didn’t pay him for his silence he would do me and the horses some serious damage. He was upsetting the animals as it was. Nellie, my mare, was beginning to snort and stamp. That made me really angry. Before I knew it I had picked up a stirrup that had come off Nellie’s saddle and walloped him over the head with it. I must have hit him really hard because he just slumped to the ground motionless. I felt his pulse and realized he was dead.’ ‘Of course I panicked. I dragged him over to a large pile of straw and hid him under it. There was no blood or anything. I just stood there wondering what to do and then I thought of you, Ambrose, and came right over. I’m sorry I’ve got you mixed up in this.’ For a long while there was silence. Ambrose thought hard. Percival was an idiot to have killed the man. It was quite possible that his unrestrained temper would get him into serious trouble. ‘There is only one thing to do,’ he told Percival shortly. ‘You must go home and send for the police. You must tell them you were acting in self-defence. You said that the man had a knife. Tell them he threatened you and the horses and that he attacked you, so you hit him with the stirrup. Most of that is true. Get on home quickly, Percy, before any of your stable hands find the body!’

Percival got up slowly and drained the last of his brandy. Ambrose was right. It would be better to tell as much of the truth as he could and trust that the police would believe him. He shook Lord Ambrose’s hand and thanked him. ‘You’re a good friend. I can’t thank you enough.’ And with that he left. Lord Ambrose sat back down in his armchair and eyed the fire. Hawkins, his butler, came in to clear the glasses. ‘Hawkins,’ began Lord Ambrose, looking up. ‘Sir?’ ‘You will forget that you saw Lord Percival this evening. No gentlemen disturbed me this evening. Is that understood?’ Hawkins looked at his master gravely and gave a small bow. ‘It is understood. Will you be needing anything else tonight, sir?’ Lord Ambrose shook his head. When Percival got back to the stables, he found the body was still under the straw. He dragged it out and went indoors to send a man for the police. When they arrived an hour later they found Percival still white and shaking, with a man dead at his feet. ‘Good lord!’ cried one of the constables. ‘It’s Spike the Knife.’ Percival looked confused. The constable turned and took him gently by the arm, steering him towards a small stool. ‘Sit down, sir. This must have been a huge shock.’ Percival explained what had happened, omitting the part about his brother and the cheating. The two constables nodded sagely. ‘You’ve had a lucky escape, sir. Spike the Knife has killed a number of individuals over the years. We’ve never been able to catch him until now. If you’d just tell us the story again we’ll write it down then send someone over to remove the body.’ The constable took Percival’s statement and some time later a police carriage arrived to remove Spike the Knife. Percival watched them go with deep relief. He could not believe how fortunate he was, nor how grateful the

police were. ‘A hardened criminal,’ the police had said. He was lucky to get away with his life. Dawn was just beginning to break when Percival slumped into bed. The experience had been a most unpleasant one. He slept late and it was not until the afternoon that he made his way over to Lord Ambrose Pagett’s house to convey his thanks for his friend’s advice. Lord Ambrose had been writing in his journal when Percival was ushered into his study. ‘I take it events have reached a successful conclusion?’ Lord Ambrose asked with a faint lift of one eyebrow. Percival nodded and quietly explained what had happened. Lord Ambrose looked thoughtful. ‘Spike the Knife,’ he mused thoughtfully. ‘I remember a case involving a man called Spike the Knife. A most bloodthirsty individual, I recall. You are lucky to be with us today, my friend.’ Percival smiled wanly. ‘So the police tell me. My hearty thanks for your advice. I am most grateful.’ Lord Ambrose smiled. ‘I am glad you saw fit to listen to it. Otherwise the outcome might have been less happy. And now, it is your advice I must seek. You remember the young lady I was telling you about, Miss Amelia Whelkin, the daughter of the industrialist, Charles Oliver Whelkin. She is coming to London and it is my hope to see her again. To this effect, I thought to hold a ball.’ ‘A ball!’ Percival looked amazed. ‘But you hate parties and dancing. A ball?’ Lord Ambrose leaned back in his chair and shrugged. ‘I feel it is time to open my house to a number of select guests. Miss Whelkin will be one, I hope, and I shall expect you to be there too, Percival.’ Percival wondered whether Lord Ambrose might have another motive for wanting to hold a lavish ball. After all, he really did hate parties and dancing so much.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Why is Percival Soames so anxious when he visits Lord Ambrose? 2. How do we know that Lord Ambrose and Percival have a strong friendship?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: haggard blackmailing self-defence

3. Why did Spike the Knife think he could get money out of Percival?

2. What is ‘a hardened criminal’?

4. Who is Arthur, and what do we know about his character?

3. What is meant by a ‘successful conclusion’?

5. What does Lord Ambrose advise Percival to do about the accidental killing? 6. Why do you think Lord Ambrose asked his butler to forget he had seen Percival that evening? 7. What actually galvanises Percival into taking action against Spike the Knife?

Extension work 1. What do you learn about Lord Ambrose’s character from this passage? 2. How could Percival have handled the situation in the stables without actually killing the man? 3. Do you think that Lord Ambrose’s advice was good? Give reasons for your response. 4. What do you think Percival should do about his brother, Arthur? 5. For what particular reason do you think Lord Ambrose wants to hold a ball? 6. Unknown to Percival, Spike the Knife had an accomplice waiting for him outside the stables, who saw everything that went on. Describe what you think the accomplice will do next.

The Bathroom (a play)

Kiera has gone into the bathroom and discovered that the builders in the flat next door have drilled through the wall and broken some tiles. Kiera  (furiously) Elliott! Elliott! Come and see what they’ve done! Elliott  (enters the bathroom) What is it, love? Kiera  (points to the wall) Look! Elliott  Good grief! They’ve ruined the tiles! Kiera  It’s not just the tiles, Elliott. Look at the holes in the wall.  (bursts into tears) It looks awful, absolutely awful! My beautiful tiles! I’ll never be able to get more tiles like them. Elliott  (upset) I know. There, there love! Kiera  (blowing her nose loudly) I told you they were rotten builders.

They’ve annoyed everyone in the flats. I’ve had to tell them twice to stop leaning on our car in the car park while they have a smoke. Elliott  Yes, well I’ll call the managing agents office. They’ll have to talk to the builders.  (gets out his phone and rings the number) Hello, hello … It’s Elliott here. We’ve got a bit of a problem with next door’s builders. Oh! Yes, thanks. I’ll see you soon. Bye, now. (puts phone away) Jared says he’ll be round shortly. He was coming over anyway, to see one of the other flats. They’ve been complaining about the noise and a load of cracks have appeared in the walls of their kitchen. Kiera  It’s like what happened to my

brother when his neighbours had builders in. All the drilling made cracks appear in his walls and ceiling, and the neighbours’ builders had to replaster and paint his flat. It was a nightmare. Still, the builders put in a new kitchen for him, to make up for the trouble. Elliott  A new kitchen? Kiera  His kitchen walls were so badly damaged that William said they might as well take the old kitchen out and put in a new one. He’d been planning to get a new kitchen at some point, and I think this spurred him on.  (excited) I say, Elliott, do you think we might get a new bathroom out of this accident? Elliott  Are you joking? Kiera  No I’m not!  (jumps as the doorbell goes) Elliott  That’ll be Jared. I’ll get the door.  (goes out, then reappears with a man and a petite, businesslike woman wearing smart clothes) Jared  Hello, Kiera. I met Mrs Zebronovitch downstairs. She and her daughter have bought the flat where all the decorating is going on. Kiera  Yes, we know. How do you do?  (shakes Mrs Zebronovitch’s hand) Jared  Mrs Zebronovitch is an architect. She was on her way here to see how the builders were getting on and of course I told her about your wall. Mrs Zebronovitch  I heard about the wall and was horrified.  (examines the wall carefully and makes notes) Jared  We need to sort out how to repair the damage.

Mrs Zebronovitch Yes, indeed. I will send in my tiler tomorrow and he will patch up the wall. Elliott  Er, what do you mean by ‘patch up?’ Mrs Zebronovitch  Fill in the holes and put new tiles over the broken ones. Very quick. Kiera  We don’t want the mess just covered over. Just covering the existing tiles won’t be good enough. It would look dreadful. These holes need to be carefully mended and the whole bathroom re-tiled. Mrs Zebronovitch  (thoughtfully) Yes, yes, I see. It would be best. I will speak to my builders and tell them that they must repair the damage out of their own pockets. This is their mistake, not mine, and they must do the paying! Jared  (carefully) Perhaps I could see your wall. I’ll take a few photographs of both walls for insurance purposes and for the records. (takes a camera from his rucksack and starts taking pictures) Mrs Zebronovitch  Yes, yes, no problem. If you please, come with me now. I will show you the wall.  (Mrs Zebronovitch and Jared leave) Kiera  She sounds as if she’s quite happy to get the damage repaired. We’d better get some new tiles, Elliott. What a lot of mess and upheaval there’s going to be now. (gloomily) That’s assuming the Elliott job gets done at all.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Describe what has happened to Kiera and Elliott. 2. Why is Kiera so upset about the bathroom tiles? 3. What type of property do they live in? 4. How is Jared going to help Kiera and Elliott?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: ruined spurred petite 2. If you ‘patch’ something up, what does this mean?

5. Who is Mrs Zebronovitch and what job does she do? 6. Why is Elliott gloomy at the end of the scene? 7. What is Kiera hoping to get out of the whole situation if she is lucky? 8. How does Kiera respond to Mrs Zebronovitch’s first solution to the problem?

Extension work 1. Describe the benefits and problems of getting builders to put in a new bathroom. 2. If you were Mrs Zebronovitch, what would you say to your builders? 3. Carry on the dialogue between Kiera and Elliott. What do you think they will say next? 4. What do you think will happen next? Do you think that the damage to the bathroom will be sorted out? 5. What special things are there in your life that you would really hate to see ruined?

Maya Maya was not an ordinary child, although there were times when her mother wished that she were. Maya had gifts. The gifts had not been apparent as a baby. It was only when she had grown up a bit and begun school that it became clear that Maya was different … very different. ‘It’s OK to be different,’ reassured Mr Dimpling, Maya’s understanding teacher, when Mr and Mrs Amara went to talk over their concerns about Maya . ‘What is it that

worries you most?’ It was difficult for the Amaras to know where to start. ‘Well … she seems to know more than other children,’ began Mrs Amara tentatively. Mr Dimpling nodded understandingly. Maya knew a great deal more than other children. It was really quite extraordinary how a child of five had managed to absorb the complexities of chemistry and physics; her explanation to the class of what black holes were had been quite outstanding. And she was only five. Incredible. ‘And she reads too,’ began Mrs Amara. Mr Dimpling nodded understandingly again. Maya did indeed read. Maya said she had enjoyed Shakespeare’s plays, but preferred the encyclopedia because she learnt more about the world from it. Maya found maths and English easy too. Mr Dimpling had had to apply to the local university for material to interest his student because Maya had achieved all the school curriculum had to offer. ‘She does need challenging,’ agreed Mr Dimpling. ‘Is there anyone else in the family with such gifts?’ The Amaras looked at one another, embarrassed. Mrs Amara swallowed hard. ‘Great-uncle Nero,’ she said, her cheeks turning rosy red. ‘He was a bit different too.’ She omitted to say how different. In his time, Great-uncle

Nero had been considered a freak, a weirdo. He had also been treated as an outcast.

at each other then back at Mr Dimpling and nodded.

‘We don’t want Maya to be different,’ said Mrs Amara in a small voice. ‘We want her to have friends.’

‘Oh!’ said Mr Dimpling. Well that explained a number of happenings in the classroom. When Maya had warned Caz not to touch the new mural in the hall because the headmaster was on the way and Caz did touch it, only to be told off by the head moments later. And it explained what happened at register last week. Cecilia was absent and Maya said confidently that she had just fallen out of a tree and broken her leg and was off to hospital. Twenty minutes later Cecilia’s mum had called in to say that Cecilia wouldn’t be in as she had broken her leg. Strange. But useful too. Mr Dimpling thought of the lottery he often bought tickets for. If Maya could see into the future and tell him what the numbers were then he could make a lot of money very quickly and very easily. It was tempting … but it would be wrong, of course.

Mr Dimpling smiled reassuringly. ‘Oh, but Maya does have friends,’ he said comfortingly. ‘Many friends. She is amazingly popular. She knows she is gifted, but she doesn’t show off. She accepts that she can do more than the others and is keen to help them. You should be very proud of your daughter; she’s a very special girl.’ Mr Dimpling smiled at the Amaras and they smiled back at him. There was one other matter they wished to discuss. ‘Has Maya spoken to you of the future?’ asked Mr Amara. Mr Dimpling looked slightly confused. ‘I’m sorry,’ he replied, ‘I don’t quite follow you. It’s a little soon for Maya to be thinking about her career.’ Mr Amara smiled apologetically. ‘No, I mean the future … .’ He coughed awkwardly. ‘It appears Maya can see into the future.’ Mr Dimpling looked startled. What could Mr Amara mean? ‘Do you mean she knows what is going to happen before it does?’ The parents looked

Then there was something else. ‘I wouldn’t walk home tonight if I were you, Mr Dimpling,’ Maya had told him this morning. ‘Take a bus or a taxi; it will be better for you.’ Mr Dimpling remembered the remark and stared at the Amaras. This morning he would have ignored it. Now, however, he decided to follow Maya’s advice. Better safe than sorry.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What makes Maya different from other children?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: worries

2. Why do her parents worry about Maya? What problems do they think her gifts might bring her?

outcast

3. Is Maya aware that she is different from the other children? Give examples from the passage to back up your response.

curriculum

complexities

2. Great-uncle Nero was treated as ‘an outcast’. What does this mean?

4. Maya has friends at school. How does she behave to the other children? 5. Mr Dimpling thinks that Maya’s gifts could be useful. In what way? 6. Give one instance in which Maya seems to be foretelling the future.

Extension work 1. If you were Mr Dimpling, how would you ensure that Maya was not treated as strange by the other children? 2. Imagine you are Maya. Describe what it feels like to have special gifts. 3. You are a radio reporter and about to interview one of Maya’s classmates. What questions would you ask? 4. What do you think Maya might do when she grows up? 5. Imagine that you are Mr Dimpling and you do not listen to Maya’s advice about not walking home. Write about what happens on your walk home. 6. Great-uncle Nero had gifts. Invent some special things that he could do that normal people can’t do.

The Painting (part 1) The painting hung in the hall of Sagwell Castle. It was hardly noticeable against the dark, wooden panelling. The gilt frame was now shabby and slightly damaged, while the painting itself was badly in need of cleaning: it was difficult to see the dense forest with its tiny pagoda, and the flight of birds in the distance was stained and cracked. If you looked very closely you could just see the small figures in the foreground, a man and a woman, almost hidden beneath a thick layer of grime. The painting should have been taken down and cleaned years ago. But nobody dared touch it. The painting was cursed. ‘There’s no such thing as a curse,’ Hamwell Bothwait had confidently told his wife Jane one evening over a hundred years ago. He had taken the painting down and examined it, before wrapping it carefully in paper, ready to take to the restorers. Hamwell Bothwait had died suddenly that night and the painting had been found back on the wall, with the wrapping paper crumpled and torn on the floor beneath it. Plenty of explanations were given for the death of Hamwell and the painting’s reappearance on the walls, but none made sense, for no-one but Hamwell had touched the painting and all the servants had been in bed.

Old Doctor Haslam had examined Hamwell’s inert body. He was puzzled: there were no signs of foul play or of illness. The death was a complete mystery. When Jane Bothwait told him about the picture, the doctor’s face clouded over. ‘He should never have touched it.’ The doctor shook his head sadly. ‘Hamwell knew it was cursed. He was warned years ago by his father to leave it alone.’ The Bothwait family left Sagwell Castle. Jane Bothwait had been too distraught to remain. Taking her three sons and most of the servants, she fled to the family estate in Scotland. A skeleton staff stayed on in the castle, keeping it in repair, never touching the painting. Then sixty years later, Donald

Bothwait, Hamwell and Jane’s grandson, came to Sagwell. Donald was a quiet man with a great love of architecture and paintings. He had made a fortune in industry and now, having retired, took up residence at Sagwell. He proceeded to renovate the ancient castle. Everything was taken down to be washed or restored, even the painting on the panelled wall in the hall. Just a few short weeks after moving in, Donald was found dead under a heavy block of stone that had fallen from the east tower and crushed him. Donald had never married and had no child to whom he could bequeath Sagwell. The next in line was his niece, Amy. Amy had spent most of her life in Australia on her late father’s ranch in the outback, but now

she made the journey across the oceans to England, and to Sagwell. Amy was only twenty-two, but she was strong-minded, independent and unafraid. At Sagwell she was met by her uncle’s solicitor, Agatha Whelkins. Whelkins was a small, serious-faced woman with a nervous twitch in her left eye. She had papers for Amy to sign and advice to give. ‘The picture is cursed,’ she warned Amy. ‘On no account should you or anyone else touch it, or death will follow swiftly. It killed your uncle and all those before him who dared disturb it. Leave it well alone.’ To Agatha Whelkins’ consternation, Amy had just laughed. ‘Curses do not frighten me, Ms Whelkins,’ she replied bravely. Agatha Whelkins’ face paled. ‘You have been warned. I strongly suggest you heed my advice and leave the picture alone.’ Amy smiled. ‘Thank you. Tell me more about this curse.’ Agatha Whelkins shook her head. ‘Everyone who knew the origins of the curse is long gone. Its history will remain a secret forever.’ When Agatha had left, Amy decided to have a good look at the picture. She could feel the unpleasantness oozing from it and suddenly realized why fate had brought her to Sagwell. To destroy the painting.

It was as if the picture sensed her thoughts. The scene it depicted darkened even further, and the very air seemed suddenly stifling. Amy walked towards the front door. The dark, oppressive atmosphere lifted from her and she felt lighter than before. She made her way down to the lake. In the middle of the lake was an island with a small copse. This was now overgrown but from her position on the bank, Amy could see that brambles and thorns were beginning to throttle the trees. She made her way over to the boathouse, where a rickety rowing boat lay idle. It appeared to be sound and there were oars lying at the bottom of it. Amy rowed herself over to the island. Something white glinted at her between the thorns and trees. Pushing her way through, Amy found, to her surprise, a small pagoda. It was grimy and ivy-covered, and birds and animals had made their home in it, but otherwise it stood tall and proud. Amy stared at it. It seemed familiar. Then she remembered the painting. The painting had a small forest in it and in the middle was a pagoda. She muttered aloud. ‘This is the pagoda in the picture.’ Inside was a small, stone bench. Amy sat on it for a long time and thought hard. Someone who knew Sagwell must have painted the picture. The artist, however, had not signed their name as most artists do. Had they not

been proud of their work? Or did they wish to conceal their name and true intentions? Amy puzzled about the painting for weeks, but got no further. Then she met old Mrs Hazel. Mrs Hazel had been housekeeper at the castle in her time, and now lived in a cottage nearby. She was in her garden when Amy passed, and they chatted about Mrs Hazel’s roses. Amy steered the conversation around to the painting and watched as Mrs Hazel’s face clouded over. ‘It is cursed,’ she stated flatly. ‘Everyone who touches it dies suddenly.’ She looked up with piercing dark eyes. ‘You haven’t touched it, have you?’ she asked. Amy shook her head. ‘No, but I need to know more about it. Can you help me?’ Mrs Hazel scrutinized her carefully. ‘You mean to get rid of it, don’t you?’ she said. Amy returned her steady gaze unwaveringly. There was no point in lying. ‘I do,’ she replied. Mrs Hazel nodded approvingly. ‘You’d best come in and have a cup of tea,’ she said, opening the gate and beckoning Amy inside. ‘The story is a long one … .’

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What does it mean for something to be cursed? 2. Whereabouts in the castle is the painting? 3. The painting cannot be cleaned or restored. Why is this?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: grime bequeath oppressive 2. What is meant by a ‘skeleton staff’?

4. After her husband’s death, what did Jane Bothwait do? 5. How did Amy come to inherit Sagwell Castle? 6. What advice does Agatha Whelkins give Amy? 7. Amy feels she has come to Sagwell for a purpose. What purpose? 8. What is it that suggests the picture was painted by someone who knew Sagwell?

Extension work 1. What do you learn about Amy’s personality from the passage? 2. Why do you think Mrs Hazel knows so much about the painting? 3. Imagine you are Amy. Write a letter home to your mother explaining what has happened since you left for England. 4. What do you think Amy will do to get rid of the painting? Write the next chapter of the story. 5. Amy doesn’t have much money to spend on keeping the castle in good repair. What do you think she could do to earn some money?

The Appalling Day company called Kreate. Kreate had already poached a number of Mrs Fothergill’s clients, which had driven her mad with rage. The boardroom had echoed with the sounds of her wrath, and the meeting had ending with the sacking of the creative director.

Daphne Entwhertle was having an appalling day. On a scale of one to ten, with one being low, she already rated her day at minus 6 and it was spiralling downwards even further. The day had started badly. Her alarm clock had failed to go off and she had not woken until 11:20. She had rushed into work and arrived hours late, just as the rest of her friends were preparing to go to lunch. Now she slid furtively behind her desk and started shuffling piles of paper around. She would have asked a friend to buy her a sandwich to eat at her desk but in her haste to leave the house, she had left her purse and house keys in the kitchen. Daphne cursed roundly and made herself a cup of scalding hot coffee in the office kitchen. If only she could avoid her boss, Mrs Fothergill. Mrs Fothergill was not someone you chose to spend time with. Fortunately, she mostly ignored her employees. But when she did notice them, she made their lives a misery by criticising their ability and ideas. Her packaging company, Big Ideas, was currently in direct competition with a new packaging design

As we have said, Daphne was having an appalling day. And early that afternoon, a summons came from Mrs Fothergill: would Daphne come and see her. Daphne walked into the spartan office on the fourth floor with terror in her heart. Mrs Fothergill’s face was thunderous. Her florid cheeks were livid with rage and her eyes practically bulged out of her head. She threw a green tissue box at Daphne, that walloped her on the forehead, causing her to yelp in pain. ‘And what, in the name of all that’s reasonable, do you call that?’ Mrs Fothergill asked furiously. Daphne winced. She picked up the box and stared at it blankly. There was a nasty garish logo on the side and on the top of the box was a picture of a man blowing his nose gustily. Daphne winced again. She could see why Mrs Fothergill was fuming. The design was vile, utterly vile. ‘Well, get on with it!’ snapped Mrs Fothergill. ‘Explain yourself. You designed that monstrosity, and you expect your hideous creation to appeal to the general public.’ ‘Well no … of course not … but … .’ ‘How dare you produce such ghastly, unimaginative rubbish.’ Daphne listened to Mrs Fothergill rant for a further ten minutes and was finally allowed

to scuttle out of her office, her face aflame with shame and misery. Mrs Fothergill had every reason to be disappointed with the packaging design for Sneezies tissues but she, Daphne, had not created it. It was unfair to blame Daphne for something she had never even seen before. She spent the next few hours trying to locate the designer of the box who had conveniently gone out on a client interview. To make up for arriving late that morning, Daphne left work later than usual. The sky had darkened to a dull, steel grey and ominous clouds scudded across it. The bus stop was swarming with other tired workers going home late, and there was no room on the already crowded bus when it finally arrived. Daphne sighed heavily and began to walk home just as the rain began to fall. By the time she reached the top of her street, her feet were hurting, her coat was soaked, and she was desperate for a cup of tea. It was then that she saw the lottery ticket lying in the gutter just beside a drain. Daphne stared at it and blinked. She squinted down into the gutter. Yes … it definitely was a lottery ticket and it looked crisp and new, as if it had only recently been bought. Daphne straightened her aching back and looked around. There was no one about, which meant that the owner of the ticket had already gone. Daphne reached down into the gutter and picked up the ticket before the rain washed it down the drain. She held it tightly in her hands. The ticket was dated Saturday 15th October, the Saturday just gone in

fact. Daphne found her heart beating a little faster and she looked around her: perhaps it was some sort of hoax, a trick someone was playing. But she could see no one watching from behind a window and no lacy curtain twitching. Daphne stuffed the ticket in her pocket and continued the weary slog to her front door, or rather, her neighbour’s front door, to ask for the spare key. At last, Daphne was in her own home with a cup of tea in her hands, reflecting on the dreadfulness of the day. Suddenly, her mobile phone rang out, disrupting the peace and quiet. It was her sister Imelda, ringing to remind her about the school fête Daphne had promised to attend at the weekend. ‘You are coming?’ she asked brightly, ‘Tom and I have got the spare room ready and the children are so excited about seeing their auntie.’ Daphne sighed. ‘Of course I’m coming,’ she replied, wondering how she could face the long train journey down to her sister’s on a Friday night. ‘Excellent. How was your day? You sound tired.’ Daphne told her about her day. Imelda was sympathetic. She was also excited when she heard about the lottery ticket. ‘You should put it somewhere safe. I always put ours in the bread bin.’ Daphne put her phone down. Too tired to cook, she made herself a sandwich, put the ticket in the bread bin, and switched on the television.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What starts the day off badly for Daphne? 2. List the things that go wrong for Daphne. 3. What is the name of the company Daphne works for, and what does the company do?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: appalling scalding garish hoax

4. Why does Daphne miss lunch?

employee

5. What is wrong with the packaging of Sneezies tissues?

wrath

6. What visible features tell us that Mrs Fothergill is angry? 7. What do we learn about Mrs Fothergill’s personality from her office?

spartan 2. Find four words that describe the deterioration of the weather.

8. Why is Daphne reluctant to retrieve the lottery ticket?

Extension work 1. Continue the story. If Daphne wins the lottery what do you think she does? 2. Have you ever had an ‘appalling day’? Describe what made it appalling for you. 3. Mrs Fothergill is going on a course called ‘Managing staff successfully’. List five key points you feel she should learn in order to manage people better. 4. Write about how the lottery ticket came to be lying in the gutter. 5. In play format, write the exchange that Daphne would like to have had with Mrs Fothergill about the Sneezies box design.

Storm over Skullbone Island Flint watched the thunder clouds massed over the small island about four miles away. A violent storm was starting over Skullbone Island. Strange things had been happening lately. His men had sighted peculiar sea creatures, and only yesterday they had come across a water spout taller than a cathedral. Now there was this storm, the like of which he had never seen before. Enormous waves lashed the little island, pounding the cliffs, and huge flashes of lightning lit up the whole sky. Flint was glad they were safe on Turtle Island. The huge waves had mysteriously kept away from Turtle Island, though the sea was choppy and foam-filled. Flint had found Turtle Island months earlier. He had plotted its position carefully on a map for future reference. Today he was glad to have done so. Turtle Island was virtually unknown to most people: pirates, smugglers, even the king’s men, had little idea of its existence. This suited Flint very well, very well indeed. At present they were safe. The trouble was, for how long? ‘It’s gettin’ worse.’ Flint nodded at the man beside him. Watkins had not taken the eyeglass from his good eye for the last fifteen

minutes. It was not just the storm he was monitoring, but the horizon too. Somewhere out there in the frothing, boiling sea could be someone they didn’t want to see: Screwy Scrawkins. ‘The thatched huts will give us a bit o’ shelter,’ continued Watkins flatly. ‘But that storm’s coming this way. It’ll hit us soon, I’m sure of it. I don’t like it one bit, Captain. I’d better tell the men to get ready.’ Flint nodded again. ‘How are the repairs going, Mr Watkins?’ ‘Not as fast as you’d like, I’m afraid, Captain. Timms

has mended the mast on The Diamond, but the hull’s more damaged than he thought. The men are cutting planks from palm trees.’ Captain Flint frowned slightly. ‘Thank you Mr Watkins. See that the dry wood is covered and that the men get to shelter quickly when the storm hits. Better make sure the ammunition and guns are close to hand. We need to be prepared at all times.’ Watkins saluted his captain briefly and left the rocky outcrop. There was no need for further words.

He understood his captain perfectly. Scrawkins was coming after them and they had to be prepared! Scrawkins was the terror of the high seas, a pirate who instilled fear and dread in the hearts of all those unfortunate enough to encounter him. His cutlass had ended the lives of many men, and his cut-throat crew had destroyed several ships, sending them to the bottom of the ocean. Flint had last seen Scrawkins only weeks before. He had sailed The Diamond into Bloodlust Bay to find that Scrawkins was there making merry at that favourite haunt, the Olde Rattlebone Inne. Flint

had cursed Scrawkins, for The Diamond was in need of repair and Flint had planned to stay at the inn until his ship was seaworthy. Then Flint thought of the treasure that Scrawkins had stolen from Flint only months before, and he formed a plan. That night the Olde Rattlebone Inne was filled with drunken, rowdy men, all singing and dancing loudly. Every so often a pistol shot rang out and then there was more shouting and laughter. Flint snatched his opportunity while he could. Under cover of darkness, he and his men had boarded Scrawkins’ ship the Sea Snake and robbed it of three chests

of gold and jewels. The same gold and jewels Scrawkins had stolen from Flint. They then set the ship alight. Scrawkins had witnessed the blaze from the inn, but by then Flint had made good his escape. Doubtless some tattletale would tell Scrawkins who had burnt the ship. Scrawkins would be after them, no doubt, but when and where? ‘It is time to put an end to Scrawkins once and for all,’ thought Flint. His eyes narrowed and his heart hardened. ‘It’s time to put my plan into action.’ Soon Scrawkins would be finished forever.

Word work

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

1. Give the meaning of the following words: pistol

1. Why is Watkins looking through his eyeglass? 2. Why is Flint on Turtle Island?

haunt

3. Why are the men cutting planks?

smuggler

4. Who is Scrawkins?

cutlass

5. What had Scrawkins stolen from Flint?

horizon

6. Why did Flint and his men set the Sea Snake alight? 7. Who do you think the king’s men are? 8. What is the Olde Rattlebone Inne and where is it?

making merry 2. List all the words you can find that describe the weather.

9. Find two words which best describe the turbulent sea.

Extension work 1. Why do you think Flint named his ship The Diamond? 2. What do you think Scrawkins felt when he saw the Sea Snake on fire? 3. What do you think Scrawkins was going to do with all the gold and jewels he had stolen? 4. Imagine you are one of the men on Flint’s ship. You keep a diary. Describe one of your experiences at sea. For example, write about the strange animals you have seen, or how you found some treasure. 5. Write a history of the Old Rattlebone Inne. You could say which famous pirates have visited it, and how it got its name. Explain what makes it a special place for pirates. 6. Continue the story. What happens next? 7. What do you learn about Scrawkins’ personality from the passage?

The Painting (part 2) Mrs Hazel’s cottage was small but warm and cheerful. A large black cat was lying stretched out in front of the fire. While Mrs Hazel busied herself making tea in the kitchen, Amy took the opportunity to scrutinize the many books on the shelves. Most were cookery and plant books but dotted around here and there were some on architecture and painting. There were some beautiful paintings on the walls too and when Amy looked more closely she could see that they had been signed MH. ‘I see you’ve spotted my handiwork,’ Mrs Hazel said as she brought in a tray of tea things. ‘I enjoy painting. It gives me something to do with my time, but my eyes are not good these days so now I paint much less. Have a scone.’ She poured out the tea and handed Amy a plate of fluffy scones filled with jam and cream.

‘The artist who did the painting,’ Mrs Hazel began, taking a sip of tea. ‘Was Abnor Nottcutt. He lived not far from here with his wife, Clarissa, and their son Eli. They were very poor. Clarissa took in laundry and often worked up at the castle doing odd jobs like cleaning. The boy, Eli, had talent as an artist like his father. Abnor did some beautiful paintings, but no one around here was much interested in art so Abnor never made a decent living from it.’

‘This was a long time before Hamwell Bothwait inherited the castle. Custar Bothwait was the owner then; he was said to have beeen a mean, unpleasant individual and people were terrified of his vile temper. When things didn’t go his way he’d punish whoever or whatever it was most cruelly … like his two wolfhounds. Custar had two wolfhounds, trained to catch hares and rabbits. The gamekeeper looked after them and did all their training so, of course, the dogs looked upon him as their master. Custar only used them for sport. Jacob Wilkins, another local gamekeeper, also had a wolfhound. Jacob boasted to Custar that his dog was better than Custar’s pair and challenged him to a competition, which Custar accepted. But to Custar’s rage and disappointment, Jacob’s wolfhound caught more hares

and rabbits that day than Custar’s dogs. Demented with fury, Custar had both his hounds throttled to death. His own gamekeeper never forgave him for that outrage and left his service soon after. ‘Now Custar wanted Abnor to do some work for him at the castle. He wanted a mural in the minstrel’s gallery, and also a painting of the pagoda he’d had built on the island in the lake. Abnor was reluctant to have anything to do with him, but Custar promised Abnor a large sum of money and Abnor at last agreed. He was going to start with the mural then go on to the other commission.

‘At that time Eli was only seven, but his gift for painting was really quite astonishing. Eli helped Abnor with the mural. It took them many weeks of hard painstaking work but at last it was done. It was a beautiful mural; you

can still see it now, though it is a little faded, and you would never know who had done which part, which shows how talented young Eli was.

‘Custar never paid them. He told Abnor that the work was not up to standard because a boy had painted it and refused to give them any money. At the time, Abnor was nearly destitute and only help from the villagers managed to get Abnor through a long, cruel winter. His wife and Eli took sick and never recovered from their illness. Mad with grief, and sick with rage, Abnor painted that picture of the island and put a curse on it. It was hung in the hall as you know and there it has stayed for years; the curse has never been lifted. If the picture is moved or taken down the person who touches it dies most horribly.’ ‘And Custar Bothwait?’ asked Amy. ‘What happened to him?’ Mrs Hazel sighed. ‘He

died alone one night in the pagoda, of a fit. No one mourned his loss. It was a long time before anyone realized that the picture was cursed and could not be touched.’ ‘But how do you know the story?’ asked Amy, puzzled.

Mrs Hazel smiled. ‘I happen to be a descendant of Abnor Nottcutt’s sister,’ she replied calmly.

For a brief moment there was silence in the cottage except for the contented purring of the cat.

‘I think Custar behaved abominably towards Abnor and his family. Had he paid them their rightful dues they might have been able to buy food and fuel which would have kept them going that winter.’ She sighed. ‘Now what shall we do with the painting? I can understand why you want to get rid of it.’ Amy was thoughtful. Mrs Hazel was right. The picture had to be disposed of before

more people died. The difficulty was: how?

‘Can curses be lifted?’ she asked.

Mrs Hazel frowned. ‘I’m not sure. It’s not something I have thought about. Surely the curse can only be lifted by the person who made it and that person died a long time ago.’ Amy stood up, her head buzzing with all the new information she had acquired. She thanked Mrs Hazel for her kind hospitality and said she needed to think about the situation. Mrs Hazel nodded understandingly. ‘It doesn’t seem fair to burden someone so young with such a problem,’ she said patting Amy’s hands gently. ‘Come again when you think you have a solution and we can talk it over.’ But she was never to learn Amy’s solution, for that night Amy and the painting disappeared.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. How did Mrs Hazel occupy herself in her free time and why does she no longer do this?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: mural scrutinize

2. Why did the wolfhounds not treat Custar as their master?

talent

3. What work did the Nottcutts do in order to earn a living?

boasted

4. Why did Abnor curse the painting?

reluctant

5. What reason did Custar give for not paying Abnor?

destitute

6. How does Mrs Hazel know so much about the Nottcutt and Bothwait families?

gamekeeper 2. What is a ‘minstrel’s gallery’?

7. How did Custar die?

Extension work 1. Do you think Abnor was justified in cursing the painting? Give reasons for your answer. 2. Where do you think Amy and the painting have gone? Write the next chapter of the story. 3. Write a story about a competition. 4. Imagine you are one of the servants at the Castle. You witnessed the scene when Custar refused to pay Abnor Nottcutt for the painting of the mural. In your own words, describe what you heard and saw. 5. Abnor and Clarissa spent a long time discussing what should be done about the fact that Custar wouldn’t pay for the mural. Write the conversation they had. 6. Write a character profile of Custar Bothwait.

Chapter 5: Collecting a Thayle Egg

Thayles are highly intelligent creatures, and to own a Thayle has been the dream of many. The best way to obtain a Thayle is to lay your hands on an egg and raise one of these dragonlike creatures on your own. This is a most marvellous experience but one which requires enormous dedication. Securing the egg needs meticulous planning and attention to detail. First you must catch a Groakus lizard. These lizards are well known for stealing eggs and Thayles seem to accept

their predations better than human thefts. Covering your hands with the skin of a Groakus lizard means that the smell you leave behind you will convince the Thayles that their nest has been infiltrated by a lizard. Catching a Groakus needs patience and its favourite food: spiders. A trap baited with a spider should catch you a lizard within a few hours. Once you have your lizard, you need to peel off its skin very carefully and wrap this around your hands. Dawn is the time to make

your move on the nesting site, when the Thayles are still drowsy from sleep. Once there, you should find cover immediately: find a dense thicket and keep yourself concealed. Thayles have an excellent sense of smell and will sniff out your scent from many hundreds of metres away. To avoid this, you must smother yourself with as much dragon excrement as you can. Dragon excrement can be found all around the nesting site. It has an unpleasant smell but it will help keep you safe as

Thayles are unwilling to attack something which smells familiar. Once in hiding you must wait until the dragons take off in search of food. First they will emerge from their nests and perch, fanning their wings to get warm. This is a magical time, for you will hear the song of the Thayle as they sing to one another. Eventually, one by one, they will move off in search of food. However one nursemaid will always be left to tend the site, who will move from nest to nest keeping an eye on the eggs and baby dragons. While the adult dragons are off hunting and the nursemaid is occupied with another nest, you must slip in, take your egg and retreat as fast as you can. Time is of the essence. Move with stealth as you do not want the nursemaid to become aware of your presence and remember, the Thayle has excellent hearing! Once you get your egg, wrap it well and put it safely in a bag. Get out of the nesting area as carefully and as quickly as you can. Do not be tempted to stop and look

at your egg; there will be plenty of time for that later. It is vital that by nightfall you put as much distance as you can between yourself and the nest. If you have not reached your destination and have to camp, wrap your egg carefully in straw and hang it up in a sturdy sack so that it does not get trodden upon or stolen by prowlers in the forest. You will not be able to light a fire as this could attract unwelcome attention. And do not be tempted to wash off the dragon excrement as this will still afford you some protection. By the next day you should be safe. A Thayle will not look for its lost egg after twelve to fourteen hours have passed. It knows that the egg’s contents will have died without the warmth of its mother’s body. This vulnerability of the egg to cold is why you must keep it wrapped and get it home as quickly as possible. Once home, keep your egg in a warm place, such as near a radiator. Keep it out of reach of predators

such as rats. Thayle eggs need to feel that they are loved and secure and the baby dragons inside seem to appreciate touch and warmth and the sound of your voice. I often sang to my egg, and when the baby Thayle was hatched it seemed to love music. You will know when your egg is ready to hatch because it turns a darker shade of blue. This happens about 40 days after the egg is laid – although, of course, you will not know how long ago this was. Use this waiting time to prepare the larder for your baby Thayle  (see Chapter 6: Nourishing your Thayle). This advice about Thayle eggs comes from years of experience, trial and error. I have spoken to those very few people who have managed to hatch a Thayle as well as many who have failed. They all gave excellent advice that has helped me considerably in my quest. Capturing a Thayle egg is not for the faint-hearted. It requires great patience and care. Sadly, some who have rushed their quest have not lived to tell the tale.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words:

1. What is a Thayle?

dedication

2. Why do you think catching a Thayle is ‘not for the faint hearted’?

meticulous

3. What is dragon excrement and why is it so important?

predation

4. Describe why a person hoping to steal a Thayle egg would need a Groakus lizard.

nursemaid infiltrated

5. What is the best time of day to steal a Thayle egg, and why?

smother

6. Why must you keep the egg warm?

unpleasant

7. Emerlot Twingbee suggests two attributes which a person needs if they are to capture a Thayle egg. What are they?

2. Find three words which describe the Thayle.

8. How will you know when your egg is ready to hatch?

Extension work 1. Thayles are not real. But suppose they were. Do you think it is right to collect their eggs and try to bring up a baby Thayle? 2. What, if anything, would put you off looking for a Thayle egg? 3. You have come back from your quest to find a Thayle egg. You learnt something new and exciting about the Thayles. Describe what it is. 4. Imagine you have been on your quest. Something went badly wrong at the nesting site. Describe what happened to you. 5. When looking after any animal, what are the important things you must provide for its welfare? 6. Write a paragraph of your own to include in Chapter 6: Nourishing your Thayle.

A Self-made Man Clive Gossington was not a handsome man. He was shorter than a gentleman should be who took such a generous size in belts. His was not a face that would ever turn heads: his eyes were mournful, and his drooping lips seemed set in a perpetual sneer. Indeed, Mr Gossington was not a handsome man. Clive Gossington lived alone in a tall mansion in central London. He was a bachelor, and numerous servants kept his household running smoothly. His wealth was his own, not inherited. Two cotton factories, luck and a great deal of hard work had

brought Mr Gossington the fortune which now enabled him to live a life of ease and grandeur. He was a self-made man, and the way he spoke showed it. Sadly, these two facts prevented him from being accepted in polite circles. On meeting him in the street, fine ladies and gentleman smiled politely, nodded and walked on. Mr Gossington accepted that his background was a handicap. At first his exclusion did not affect him, but after a while he longed to be a part of the society which so politely and coldly closed its doors to him. Then he met the

elderly Mrs Noakes. For much of her life, Urma Noakes had lived in India. Upon the death of her husband, Gerald, she had returned to England with a comfortable fortune. Too old and independent to bother with the opinions of other people, she happily invited Mr Gossington to her home and treated him as an equal. Mrs Noakes valued people as individuals, and for their conversation, and Mr Gossington had enough tales of his life and travels to fill a storybook. In Mrs Noakes’ company, Clive Gossington began to flourish. The petals of his personality began to open and unbend, and his face began to soften. His drooping lips began to curve upwards, to form a hesitant smile. It was to Mrs Noakes that he confided a personal hope: that one day he would marry a lady of quality. ‘It is my ardent desire to find a lady with whom I can share my life,’ he said humbly. Mrs Noakes nodded and

smiled in assent. ‘I was so lucky to find my Gerald,’ she agreed. ‘He was a good man. But my dear Mr Gossington, surely there are plenty of ladies who would think themselves fortunate to marry you.’ Mr Gossington sighed deeply and shook his head. ‘Alas, no. I am not blessed with the qualities a young lady would wish for, both in my looks and my family.’ He looked embarassed. ‘There is, however, one lady for whom I have a secret attachment. She is daughter to the Earl of Cresswater and my suit would not be acceptable to such as him.’ Again he sighed deeply. ‘Lady Emily has captured my heart but I fear, Mrs Noakes, it would need a miracle for me even to get to meet her.’

But miracles, it would appear, do happen. The following morning saw Mr Gossington taking a stroll down Regent Street, and idly looking into the shop windows. The road was busy: mingled with the carriages of the gentry were wagons carrying an assortment of wares. Suddenly Mr Gossington’s heart missed a beat as he saw Lady Emily stepping daintily across the road, her maid in close attendance. Then alarm overtook him. Charging towards the two women was a goods cart, its runaway horse quite out of control. Quick as a flash, Mr Gossington stepped out into the busy road. He ran as fast as his size would allow and swept the two women out of the path of the rampaging horse just

before it trampled them. Breathless with shock and quite unable to speak, Lady Emily merely stared at her rescuer. He took her by the hand and led her to a nearby bench. ‘Are you hurt?’ he questioned gently. ‘May I call for your carriage?’ Lady Emily nodded weakly, all colour drained from her face. Mr Gossington took control. Summoning her carriage, he escorted Lady Emily and her maid home. It was only when she was safely inside the family mansion that she was able to speak. In a soft voice she asked who she had the pleasure of thanking for her timely deliverance. ‘Mr Clive Gossington at your service Ma’am,’ he replied with a courtly bow.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. How has Mr Gossington made his money?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: inherit

2. What is it about Mr Gossington’s appearance that makes people think he is not handsome?

mournful

3. Why is Mr Gossington not welcome in polite circles?

miracle

4. How do we know that the story does not take place in modern times?

bachelor

2. What is meant by the phrase ‘took a generous size in belts’?

5. Where has Mrs Noakes spent much of her life? 6. What do you learn of Mrs Noakes’ personality from the passage? 7. How does Mrs Noakes help Mr Gossington?

Extension work 1. The fine ladies and gentleman are prejudiced against Mr Gossington because he does not talk like them and he has earned his own money instead of inheriting it. Do you think this is fair or right? 2. Can you think of any ways in which people show prejudice against other people nowadays? 3. Imagine you are Mr Gossington. Describe how you felt when you witnessed the runaway horse bearing down on Lady Emily and her maid. 4. Mrs Noakes keeps a daily journal of everything she does and of all the people she meets. Imagine you are Mrs Noakes. Write an entry for your journal on the day you meet Mr Gossington. Describe your first impressions and how you met. 5. Continue the story: what do you think will happen to Mr Gossington? 6. Write about the dramatic rescue from the point of view of Lady Emily’s maid.

The Wrong Spell The spell had gone badly wrong. Seriously, badly wrong. Wizard Wumpkin put his head in his hands while the other two wizards stared at him in dismay. ‘So where has the ship gone?’ whispered Wizard Frayle. Wizard Wumpkin looked up at his old friend and colleague. ‘I don’t know,’ he said weakly. ‘It could be anywhere.’ The other wizards recoiled in horror. ‘What do you mean it could be anywhere?’ Wizard Frayle felt his heart pound painfully in his chest. ‘The Golden Chameleon contains the bulk of King Enobar’s treasure,’ stuttered Wizard Seewell. ‘What in the name of all the stars are we going to tell him? He wants that treasure as soon as possible and you’ve sent it goodness knows where! How can we undo the spell?’ Wizard Wumpkin began thinking very hard. The Speed Spell had been a good idea. If it had worked they would have seen the ship flying through the water at a great rate

to Pharagee, where King Enobar waited. It would have arrived early, instead of taking many days of sailing. But instead the entire ship and its cargo of jewels and coins had vanished into thin air. And the only way to undo the spell was to say it backwards. But saying it forwards hadn’t worked properly. Saying it backwards might have even worse results! Wizard Wumpkin wished he had never suggested the Speed Spell. In addition, his young apprentice Rosamund had seen him mess up the spell. What sort of example was that

to a young woman learning the magic arts? The three wizards and the apprentice stared at the still, blue sea, where the ship had been such a short while ago. Rosamund frowned. ‘Wizard Wumpkin slipped up badly this time,’ she thought. It was an interesting, complicated spell. It required the magician to make just the right number of arm flourishes and wand waves while they said the words of the spell in a loud grave voice. ‘Alorum, valium, trecoydel, sayle,’ thought Rosamund, and then the idea hit her. She

looked at Wizard Wumpkin. ‘Silly, old idiot,’ she thought. ‘He should have sung the words. He only said them! If I sing the words backwards it should undo the spell.’ Rosamund began intoning the words in a loud, singsong voice. Almost immediately a small breeze blew up, there was a sudden chill in the air, and with a flash and sparkle of stars the Golden Chameleon appeared before their eyes once more. The wizards nearly fell over with surprise. ‘It’s come back,’ breathed Wizard Wumpkin in relief. He eyed Rosamund. How by all the moons in the universe did she know how to undo the spell? Rosamund looked at her mentor with a small smile. ‘You need to sing,’ she told him gently. ‘You only said the words.’ Wizard Wumpkin’s mouth dropped open. Of course! The girl was right. He should have sung the words. ‘Well done, Rosamund! Excellent work!’ He trotted quickly on board the ship, followed by the other wizards. They made their way into the State Cabin where they had put the treasure for safekeeping. But the treasure was not there. Wizard Wumpkin began hurriedly searching under the tables, chairs and bed. Nothing. ‘It’s gone!’

‘It can’t have gone,’ snapped Wizard Frayle. ‘Where could it go? Did someone move it?’ He realized the stupidity of his words. There had been no one on board. The ship was enchanted and needed no crew.

Talking Spell. Suddenly the ship sparkled with an intense light and then slowly the prow of the ship turned to face the wizards.

They searched the entire ship, every nook and cranny, every sail and barrel, but the treasure was nowhere to be seen.

‘Oh … er … good morning,’ began Wizard Frayle nervously. ‘We were wondering if you could tell us where you went just now.’

‘Ask the ship,’ suggested Rosamund.

The ship’s prow, now resembling a giant lizard’s face, stared at the wizards with a blank, inscrutable face then spoke in a sing-song voice. ‘You sent me to the Wild Lands and it was there that the trolls met me. They climbed on my decks and stole the treasure as payment for entering their lands. You can never get it back, for once the trolls have touched it, the treasure will be cursed forever.’

The Wizards stared at her in disbelief. ‘What do you mean ‘ask the ship’? began Wizard Frayle. ‘How would the ship know?’ Rosamund sighed deeply. For wizards, there were times when they seemed to know very little. ‘There must be some kind of spell you can perform to find out from the ship where the treasure went,’ continued Rosamund. Suddenly Wizard Wumpkin’s face brightened. ‘Yes of course, Rosamund’s right! There’s the Talking Spell for inanimate objects. We could try that.’ Wizard Seewell put a cautious hand on Wumpkin’s arm. ‘Do you know it?’ he asked quietly. Wizard Wumpkin’s face fell. He shook his head. ‘Allow me then,’ said Wizard Seewell and he began intoning the words of the

Wizard Wumpkin found he had completely lost his tongue.

The wizards stared at one another. The Wild Lands were bleak and barren, a frightening wilderness where no creature dared to tread. Only trolls could survive the harsh, desolate Wild Lands. ‘We’ve really had it now!’ said Wizard Wumpkin in complete despair.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What is the name of the ship that got lost? 2. Why did the ship disappear? 3. Why did Wizard Wumpkin’s Speed Spell go wrong? 4. Why did Wizard Wumpkin perform this spell? 5. What cargo was the ship carrying? 6. How did Rosamund undo the spell? 7. How did the wizards find out where the ship went? 8. Who stole the cargo? 9. Why was no one on the ship? 10. Compare and contrast the way the ship speaks to the way the wizards speak.

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: recoiled apprentice mentor inanimate inscrutable 2. Wizard Wumpkin ‘slipped up badly’ what does this mean?

Extension work 1. If you could perform the Talking Spell on an object of your choice, what would you choose and why? 2. What do we learn about Rosamund’s personality from the passage? 3. King Enobar arrives unexpectedly and suprises the wizards. Imagine you are Wizard Wumpkin. How can you break the news that the king’s treasure has vanished? 4. Imagine you are the Golden Chameleon. Describe what it was like travelling over the sea to the Wild Lands. How did you feel when the trolls swarmed over your decks? 5. What do you think the trolls will do with the treasure? 6. If you had a ship, what would you call it and why? 7. The Golden Chameleon has had many exciting voyages. Describe one of them. 8. How do you think the wizards get the cargo back? Describe what happens next in the story.

Strike at the Workshop (a play) The workshop of Father Christmas. It is very quiet. The elves are lounging around playing cards and games, or reading quietly. A couple are playing chess. Father Christmas walks in. He is casually dressed, with an apron over his clothes, so that he hardly looks like Father Christmas at all except for his snow white hair and beard. Father Christmas  (shocked) What is going on? Elf 1  (looks up from his newspaper) We’re on strike! Father Christmas  You’re what? Elf 1  On strike. Father Christmas  But whatever for? We’ve never had a strike at the workshop. Elf 2  Sorry, Father Christmas. We know it’s not usual but we’re not doing any more presents, not until things change! Father Christmas 



What do you mean? What has to change?

Elf 3 

The children.

Father Christmas

The children?

Elf 3 

Yes, the children.

Elf 4 

(comes forwards with a sheaf of letters in his hands) It’s these letters. ‘Dear Father Christmas, I want a … ’, ‘Dear Father Christmas, I want … ’, ‘Father Christmas, I’ve decided I want… .’

Father Christmas  (sitting down wearily) I see. Elf 4 

It would appear that the usual polite courtesies have been forgotten.

Elf 3 

So we put our heads together and decided that this year the children would not get any presents.

Father Christmas 

Not get any presents!

(firmly) That’s right. No presents. You’re going to put your feet up on Christmas Eve and have a wellearned rest. The reindeer can put a note in every stocking explaining why there are no presents. Father Christmas  But you can’t do that. The children expect presents. And what will happen to all the things you made this year? You’ve spent months making, wrapping and labelling everything. It will all go to waste. Elf 2  We’ll save the presents for next year, assuming the children remember their manners. Then, instead of working flat out all

Elf 2 

year, we can go on holiday! Elf 4  I’ll put the kettle on while you look at these.  (He places a pile of holiday brochures on Father Christmas’ lap.) I expect we could all do with a cup of tea. Elf 2  The reindeer are quite keen on a safari holiday. They like the idea of tented accommodation and meeting a few of their relatives: impala and gazelles. Elf 1  I thought somewhere hot and tropical might be rather fun, somewhere like Barbados. There are plenty of lovely islands around and apparently you can visit them in a little boat. Father Christmas 

(slowly and carefully) We’re a bit behind the times. That’s the problem. We expect children to behave as they used to, to be polite and not expect they can have everything they want just for the asking. But that’s not how children behave these days. You’re right: their manners have gone downhill.

Elf 1 

We have tried to be more up to date. The new computers mean that everything is processed more quickly and the new labelling machine is excellent.

Father Christmas  But new computers and new labelling machines don’t change children’s manners. Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps a strike is just what is needed to give everyone a jolt and make them think twice about Christmas and presents. And do you know what? I really could do with a break. Elf 5  Father Christmas … May I say something?

Father Christmas  Yes, of course. What is it, lad? Elf 5  I think presents at Christmas are still important. I don’t think we should miss them out even for one year. Of course it would be nice to go on holiday, but if we do that instead of giving presents to the children, then they might forget that Christmas is a time for being generous, and for giving.We help to remind people of the importance of generosity. I don’t think the problem is all about technology and keeping up with the times. Elf 3  (frowning at Elf 5) It wouldn’t hurt to have a break this year. A nice holiday far away from the workshop would do us all good. One of these brochures is on self-catering holidays in Italy. Father Christmas, you’ve always wanted to visit the Italian lakes and to see Rome properly. You never have time when you are racing about with the sleigh, delivering presents. And anyway it’s always night time when you do that. We could visit Italy and enjoy some sunshine. What do you think? Father Christmas  It would be an excellent idea. But Elf 5 does have a point, a very valuable point and one that we must not forget in the excitement of planning holidays. I think we need to have a meeting and discuss this properly.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Why are the elves on strike? 2. How does Father Christmas feel about the strike? 3. The children would need to know why there are no presents this year. How do the elves suggest they tell the children the reason? 4. What does Elf 2 suggest they do with the presents they have spent all year making and wrapping? 5. Where are the reindeer keen to go on holiday and why? 6. What have the elves and Father Christmas done to try and keep up to date? 7. Does Father Christmas agree to the idea of giving no presents this year?

Extension work 1. Do you think that the elves’ strike is justified? Give reasons for your response. 2. Do you think going on strike will solve the problem? 3. Write a really polite letter to Father Christmas telling him what presents you would like this year. Consider thanking him for the presents you received last year. 4. If you were one of the elves, what would you want to do this particular Christmas? 5. Imagine you are Father Christmas. Make a list of all the points you are going to raise at the meeting about the future of the workshop and Christmas. 6. Imagine you are one of the elves. You feel very strongly about going on holiday and having a break this year. Write a speech to deliver at the meeting which puts your point of view. 7. Write the elves’ note telling children all over the world they are not getting any presents this year and saying why.

Word work Give the meaning of the following words: lounging casually polite processed

8. Write a speech to deliver to your class saying why giving presents at Christmas is important. 9. Write a speech to deliver to your class in which you say why you think giving presents at Christmas is no longer important.

Visit to Bath uch ia, st to Bath after m la at My Dearest Amel e m co ve ha t for we I. It is h great excitemen it w u yo to all, as indeed am te at ri d w I ve ri ar ve ha e ‘tis true as is surprised w by one wheel but ed us ca tribulation. Thom be d ul lay co k that so much de h at it in years to ug la l al sh e w re monstrous to thin feel su r either, though I te at m ng hi ug la and no e rriage and we wer ca e come. th f of e m ca heel thrown nicely along, the w g lin w bo e tipped over. To be er w ge e ia w rr As ca e tir en d the tly to one side an rd put not to cry. ha as w I g. in flung most violen en ht most frig the y dear Amelia, is m , at th only bruises and e ed lik t er ff ou su ab d an rt hu t haw and I were no wright came to us el he w a l, el Thankfully Miss S bw ra llage of C much Being near the vi . ts cu of due course. I was st in le d al de sm en m as w le en. the offending artic n for its highwaym ow kn ea ar without delay, and an in e were to part set off again for w e w n he w should have hated d d ve an lie ls re ar pe d re su ring my most trea Indeed, I was wea el’s been stopped. Bath, but the whe om fr with them, had we s ile m t gh me ei olling. ed in Middleton, so ay st ve ha ld uses situated in G ou ho sh ng We hi ac co of st stay at the meane shuddered to see ve ha ld ou w u delay forced us to Yo . Amelia mas ry place, my dear ea dr p, m da t dear brother Tho a bu , h in ra Suc d an rk e da ntinuing despite th been the easiest of ve ha ld ou w e it. I was all for co w ed to mud put to ith the roads turn W . m fir d the risk. I was hard ne ke ai ta m re to h at lo as w ed ghwaymen and he hile the bed appear w , rs de ud sh targets for any hi ch me su w said night, the inn gave at th es ey ed poor Miss Sha y de m In e . os le cl ab in ag im ing every creeping th to be the home of a wink all night. Aunt she did not sleep the sanctuary of ed ch a re e w y a ey relief that next d se in Great Pultn u ho n w It was with vast to e bl a rk ma s dence , a most re the most luxuriou e it qu is it r fo Gwendoline’s resi , it ld see ia, I wish you cou el m A r ea D t. ee Str ed butler, has inform r place. he s, lin ol C so , oad herself is still abr lad, as Thomas g m a I ch hi w r Aunt Gwendoline week, fo at the end of the rn tu re to is he us. S

form her has written to in he S . ls ve a tr r to hear about he and I are eager . t r imminent return orer and has spen pl housekeeper of he ex e th e it qu e becom Gwendoline has ibes. Though how tr in ou ed B e th Apparently Aunt ing with sure in the deser t, liv s th on m I cannot think. I’m w fe el m st ca a the la on t er des all the travel across the enjoy the smell of ot n she could bear to ld ou w d n a ost disagreeable I should find it m u remember them Yo . ia animals. el C , er ht ug ith her da at they is here in Bath w w to es tl ot ers in the hope th C at w dy g La in al he e th k owed have come to drin ite wan and shad qu g in ok lo do you not? They is he eeks. S as she oom to Celia’s ch bl e th e or l. It was as much st al re at ill f w el rs he t no d d. the poor dear, an did not say a wor he S r. he around the eyes, w sa e nw d smile faintly whe ests of Lord and u g s a could do to nod an k, ee w t ex m ball n ere is the Assembly Roo to o g our clothes, for th to to re a s a e t W en rm to r of Shaw is in a feve casion. We are to oc n a ch su r Lady Allen. Miss fo ardrobe . suitable in my w g n hi ot n e for a ball gown ly m in a re rt su ce ea m to , ing s aker in this morn y hats and cravat an m en se have the dressm s ha homas to ious shops here. T lic de t os s with many visits m e ve th el e rs ou n ai rt There ar te hope to en ent of Miss Shaw and I y. bu to ith a wide assortm s w d he le is w fil is he it at th told g for we have been on this most excitin e m ith w re he the lending library be u could elia, how I wish yo m A r ea D e. ur at liter my e, I assure you of m adventure. ti n ea m e th In ball. with news of the ell. I will write to you rest Mama are w ea d d n a ou y t a sister, trust th Your affectionate fondest love , and Eugenia May

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What is the relationship between the writer and the person she is writing to? 2. To which city is the writer travelling? 3. Who is the writer travelling with? 4. What caused the delay to the journey? 5. Why would they have been an easy prey to highwaymen? 6. What sort of woman is Aunt Gwendoline?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: tribulation wheelwright sanctuary imminent assortment 2. What does it mean to say someone is in a ‘fever of torment’?

7. What different things does the writer of the letter plan to do in Bath?

Extension work 1. What do you learn about the writer’s age and personality from the passage? 2. Do you think that generally the writer leads an exciting life, or a quiet one? 3. What tells you that the letter was written some time in the past? 4. Write the letter that Amelia might send to Eugenia May in reply to this one. 5. Write a letter of your own to a friend or relation in the same style as Eugenia May’s letter. 6. Imagine you are a highwayman hiding in the woods near Crabwell. Describe your thoughts and feelings when you see Eugenia’s coach stuck in the mud. What stops you from robbing them?

The Audition Lucy stared at the stage. It was enormous, simply enormous. She began to tremble nervously. ‘It’s all right Lucy,’ said Gary, the stage manager. ‘It always looks daunting at first; you’ll get used to it. All you have to do is walk to where you should be, say your lines, and then go off on the other side. Think you can do that?’ Lucy nodded. She walked to the middle of the stage and stopped. In front of her, hundreds of empty red velvet seats waited in rows while above her hundreds of lights blazed with an intense heat. She put a hand against her forehead to try and ward off their blinding glare. ‘Put your hand down,’ commanded a voice from somewhere in front of her. Lucy put her hand down and tried to stop her knees from knocking together. ‘Say your lines,’ commanded the voice again. Lucy said her lines carefully, peering into the darkness of the seats to try and glimpse the mystery person. ‘Come forward.’ Lucy stepped forward, squinting into the darkness as she did so. She could just make out the shadow of a person sitting in the middle of the third row from the front. ‘How old are you?’ asked the person abruptly. ‘I’m twelve,’ replied Lucy as firmly as she could, though she

could hear her voice shaking slightly. ‘I had my birthday two weeks ago,’ she added, though she wasn’t sure why she said it. Immediately she felt her face flush. ‘I see,’ said the voice and there was the ghost of a laugh behind his words. ‘Happy birthday for two weeks ago.’ Lucy looked surprised. ‘Thank you,’ she replied, startled. ‘Would you like to see me dance?’ ‘Gavin!’ shouted the voice. ‘Can we have you on the piano?’ Gavin bustled in from the wings, flipping through a muddle of music. A couple of sheets floated gracefully to the ground. Gavin scooped them up and settled himself at a piano in a corner of the stage, then began playing. Lucy recognized the music immediately. It was a tune her mother played, and she moved easily and gracefully in time with the music in a sequence she made up as she went along. She became so wrapped up in the music that for a moment she forgot she was on stage. Her body glided and floated, twisting and twirling,

bending and arching until the music came to a halt. ‘Thank you,’ said the voice. Lucy could hear the note of dismissal in it. Obviously she had made no impression. Backstage, she sat down on a bench where eight other girls waited. They had all been at the theatre since early morning waiting for their turn. Now there was more waiting to find out who would be chosen for the part. Lucy sighed deeply. It was not that Deborah was a large role; there were only a few lines and a tiny bit of dancing. It was the fact that she would be working with such wonderful actors. Most of them were famous and had been in films and on television. She had seen some of them that morning. They had drifted casually

into the theatre, chatted with a variety of people and then made their way to dressing rooms and rehearsal rooms. Lucy sighed again then looked up to find Gary smiling at her. ‘Cheer up!’ he said brightly. ‘At least you got onto the stage and off again. And Mr Harper asked you to dance, which is quite something. He hasn’t asked everyone to dance, you know.’ Lucy brightened slightly. She watched as a beautiful fairhaired girl walked onto the stage. She had such poise and style; Lucy felt a pang of envy. The girl’s long, blonde hair had been twisted into two perfect braids that hung neatly down her back. It had taken Lucy ages that morning to brush her own vibrant brown locks into a semblance of order. When she had used some of her mother’s powder to try and blot out some of her freckles, her mother had laughed. ‘You can’t pretend to be something that you’re not, Lucy.’ She handed her daughter a small lunchbox filled with goodies. ‘Here, you’re going to need this. There’s always a lot of waiting at a theatre.’ Luckily Lucy’s mother had approved of her going to the audition. Other mothers might have said ‘no’, but her mother knew how much she loved acting. ‘She probably knew nothing would come of it,’ thought Lucy sadly, turning her attention towards two men who were hauling a large canvas backdrop into position behind the stage.

On stage the piano erupted into life once more as Gavin started another tune. This time it was a sea shanty, and Lucy watched as the blondehaired girl jigged gracefully about the stage with perfect timing. She seemed to have been on for ages when the next girl was called. Lucy lost interest in the other girls and stared at a woman who was busily sorting various items into careful piles. She smiled at Lucy when she noticed the young girl’s interest. ‘They’re props,’ she said. ‘I’m making sure I have all the items the actors need for the show. We lay them out on a table ready for them to take when they need them. Would you like to have a look?’ Lucy nodded and went over. There were brooches, letters, a small ring and a tray with a bottle of wine and four glasses on it. ‘It’s not a real bottle,’ explained the woman. ‘It’s made from a special material called sugar glass. When you hit someone with it, it breaks without cutting or hurting them. I think Lord Guzzlington hits his arch enemy Professor Gunton with it. We need a new bottle for each performance.’ Beside each prop was a little name tag saying what the prop was and who it was for. Beside the table was a small quickchange room made out of flimsy canvas material. Inside was a beautiful beaded green dress, a pair of high-heeled green shoes and a black wig. On a tiny table were various sticks of make-up.

‘Mrs Danning changes in there,’ explained the props woman. ‘She doesn’t have time to get back to the dressing room. If she changes here she can get on again quickly.’ Lucy was fascinated. She wandered around backstage trying not to get in the way until her name was called and she was told to go back to her bench. ‘Mr Harper’s sending some of you home now,’ Gary told them. Lucy felt relief wash over her. She was tired and drained of energy. It would be good to go home and tell her mother about all she had seen. She wondered who would be left. The blonde girl obviously and the small, petite dark-haired girl with the bunches and blue bows. But Lucy had been wrong; Mr Harper had other ideas. Various names were called out, and sad-faced girls got up in turn to leave. But Lucy’s name wasn’t called. Instead she found herself sitting on the bench with a tall, brown-haired girl with an impish face, called Sally, who grinned at her. Lucy realized that she wouldn’t be going home for a little while yet because Mr Harper wanted to see them both again.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. What is Lucy asked to do as part of her audition? 2. How many other girls have been invited to audition? 3. Is the part of Deborah a large or small part?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: audition squinting blazed poise flimsy stage manager

4. What does Lucy’s mother mean when she says: ‘You can’t pretend to be something that you’re not … ’?

2. Give another word that means the same as: intense halt

5. ‘Props’ is short for properties. In a theatre, why are props important?

3. What does it mean if something is considered to be ‘daunting’?

6. What is the purpose of the quickchange room? 7. Why does the props woman provide a sugar glass bottle instead of a real glass bottle?

Extension work 1. If you were going to audition for a small part on the stage what would you do in order to create a good impression? 2. Why do you think other mothers might have stopped their daughters from going to the audition? 3. Imagine you are Mr Harper. List four reasons why you asked Lucy to stay behind. 4. Mr Harper asks Lucy to tell him why she thinks she is the perfect choice for the role of Deborah. Imagine you are Lucy. What would you say to Mr Harper? 5. Write the scene in the play where Lord Guzzlington hits his arch enemy Professor Gunton with a bottle. 6. Sally and Lucy are waiting on the bench to see Mr Harper again. Write a dialogue between the two girls.

Friday 11th March 2011 Mizuki’s screams woke them all in the early hours of the morning. The whole family was jolted from sleep by her cries and it took hours for her mother to calm her. Ashen-faced and trembling, Mizuki could barely speak, and when she finally did it was to repeat ‘water’ over and over again with increasing intensity. ‘What about the water, Mizuki?’ her mother asked gently. Mizuki turned wide, terrified eyes upon her mother. ‘It’s everywhere,’ she breathed, her body beginning to heave and tremble once more. ‘It’s everywhere … and there are people running and screaming, but they can’t get away … and the earth’s shaking, shaking as if it won’t stop … and we’re running, but the water’s rising!’ She broke off abruptly as violent sobs enveloped her. Her mother clasped her tightly in her arms as her eyes met her husband’s. Mizuki’s dream was the same as the one she had had the previous week and the week before that. On both occasions, the family had been woken by terrified screams of ‘water’, to find Mizuki sitting up in bed, her eyes glazed with terror. ‘It is nothing,’ Aguri her father had said at the time. ‘Just a dream. Children have bad dreams.’ But her mother Aki was not sure. Grandmother Cho had dreams too. Premonitions she called them. Many were the nights when the family’s sleep had been broken by the vividness of her dreams. Aki wondered if Mizuki was having premonitions like her grandmother. Then she dismissed the thought quickly. It was foolish. Children did not have premonitions. They listened to stories or

watched programmes on television that worried them and created bad dreams. They did not have premonitions. Finally Mizuki fell into a fitful sleep, but Aki lay awake, her mind troubled. She watched a cool, orange dawn filter into the bedroom. Mizuki and her brother Kentaro did not go to school the next day. They had slept late after the unsettled night and when Mizuki awoke, fear still haunted her smudged, shadowed eyes and she started at the slightest sound. ‘I want to go to Grandmother’s,’ she kept saying, with a persistence that niggled and alarmed Aki. ‘I don’t want to stay here by the water. It frightens me.’ The water had never alarmed Mizuki before. They lived in the town of Sendai, near the sea, where Aguri made his living as a fisherman along with many other people. Grandmother Cho lived outside the town of Sendai, high in the hills, in a small house surrounded by trees. ‘There is no harm in taking her there,’ Aguri assured Aki. ‘Not much happens on a Friday and it might calm the child. Take

both children and make a weekend of it.’ As soon as Aki told the children they were going to Grandmother Cho’s house, Mizuki began gathering her things together. Aki watched as her daughter scooped up her most treasured possessions, stuffing them into a bag. She felt her heart thud uncomfortably as Mizuki urged her brother to do the same, saying, ‘You will not see them again unless you take them with you.’ Aki caught some of her daughter’s nervousness, and she found herself hurrying too, packing a large amount of luggage they would surely never need. It was only when they were in the car and leaving Sendai that Mizuki began to relax. Aki noticed that her daughter kept looking behind her as if she was being followed and the wariness did not leave her eyes until they were climbing the long winding road that led to Grandmother’s house. Grandmother Cho had been working in her small vegetable garden when they arrived. Surprise flooded her face as the children ran towards her. ‘Ee, what a surprise!’ She laughed delightedly, embracing them all. ‘What brings you here so early on a Friday and where is Aguri?’ ‘He went out fishing with the others,’ explained Aki. ‘Mizuki had a bad dream and woke us all. She wanted to come to you so I brought her here.’ Grandmother Cho said nothing but scrutinized Aki questioningly. ‘Come into the house,’ she beckoned. ‘You must all be thirsty. We will have some tea and you can tell me all about it.’ The earthquake struck without warning that afternoon. It started as a series of tremors. These developed into a violent shaking that lasted over two minutes. Grandmother Cho, Aki and the two children sheltered under the kitchen table as pieces of roof

and other debris rained down upon them. Eventually the shaking ceased and they crept from the house to survey a landscape of broken trees and upturned earth. Somewhere in the distance, lower down the hillside, they could hear the thin, piercing whine of a siren. Aki clutched her children to her. ‘Tsunami!’ she whispered. ‘Tsunami!’ ‘We are high up here,’ said Grandmother, assuming a calm she did not feel. ‘But we should try to climb higher. Come … there is no time to lose.’ Grabbing the children, the women left everything and pushed their way through the trees towards the top of the hill. Their breath came in gasps as they struggled upwards, through the snagging branches that slowed their flight. At last they came to the very top of the hill, where the trees were sparse. They sank down in a heap, clutching one another in fright. It was not a moment too soon. Somewhere below them they could hear a wild rushing sound. Mizuki’s face turned white. ‘It is the water,’ she whispered. ‘The water is coming!’ Aki clutched her children tightly to her. ‘What happens in your dream, Mizuki?’ whispered Kentaro. ‘Does the water reach you?’ Mizuki stared at him with terrified eyes. Suddenly she was reliving the dream again in her mind’s eye. She was running … running desperately. She knew that she had to get to Grandmother. Only Grandmother could help them. Then Mizuki’s body relaxed. ‘No,’ she whispered. ‘It does not reach us.’ And she was right.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Why did Muzuki wake the whole family? In your own words, describe what Mizuki could see.

Word work Give the meaning of the following words: tsunami premonition

2. Mizuki has woken before with bad dreams. Why does this worry her mother?

snagging

3. Where do the family live?

treasured

4. How does Mizuki’s father, Aguri, reassure Mizuki’s mother?

scrutinized

5. How does Aguri make his living? 6. Where does Mizuki want to go and why do you think she wishes to go there? 7. ‘… Mizuki began to relax. Aki noticed that her daughter kept looking behind her as if she was being followed.’ Why do you think Mizuki keeps looking behind her? 8. Where are the children when the earthquake strikes? 9. Why do you think Grandmother Cho encourages them to climb higher. 10. Kentaro asks Mizuki what happens in her dream. Why does he do this?

Extension work 1. Where is Mizuki’s father when the earthquake strikes? What do you think happens to him? 2. Do you think Mizuki has had a dream or a premonition? Give reasons for your answer. 3. Do you think Grandmother Cho sees Mizuki’s dream as a premonition? 4. If Mizuki didn’t have her bad dream, what do you think would have happened to the family? 5. Continue the story, describing what happens next to Mizuki. 6. Write your own story about a narrow escape from danger.

The Young Egyptian Scribe

Nakht did not enjoy going to school. There were no sports or games, just work. He only went because he hoped to become a scribe like his father. Most of his friends did not go to school; they went to work with their fathers and did what Nakht thought were proper jobs. When he had asked his father if he could go to work at Pharaoh’s pyramid his father had boxed his ears soundly and spoken sharply to him. ‘You should be proud you are learning to read and write,’ he had said sternly. ‘When you are a scribe you will be needed all over Egypt. Your knowledge will make you rich and successful and give you much wisdom. It is an honour to go to school. Very few boys of your age have lessons; they are too poor.’

Nakht’s father looked at his son’s woebegone face and some of the sternness left his own. ‘It will not be for long. Then who knows what you might become. The skills of a scribe open doors to many careers. Now, if you do well over the next few weeks you may join the next hippo hunt.’ Nakht brightened. Everyone enjoyed hippo hunts. Hippos were considered dangerous pests, and at certain times of the year they caused a great deal of damage to crops along the river bank and even killed humans who crossed their paths. Nakht’s grandmother was always complaining about the damage they did to her vegetable patch. Nakht set off to school in better spirits, wondering which day the priests would choose

for the hunt. It would have to be an auspicious day or the gods would be angry and send them poor sport. Excitement coursed through Nakht. It would be good to taste hippo meat once more; it was almost a year since the last hunt, when three large hippos had been killed. Nakht could still remember the feasting and celebrations, and the huge fires on which the hippo meat was cooked. He was still reminiscing when he met Kassim. His friend’s face was flushed with excitement. There had been trouble at the pyramid. One of the workers had slipped down the shiny limestone and hurt his back. ‘They say it’s broken, but no one is sure,’ Kassim explained. ‘They carried him away on a stretcher and no one has seen him since.’ Suddenly, Nakht was glad he did not work at the pyramid but went to school instead. Working on the pyramid was dangerous, and even though you were exempt from paying taxes, that didn’t make the danger worth risking. A serious injury could mean you never worked again, and then what would happen to your family? ‘We’re going to learn to

make papyrus today,’ said Kassim excitedly. ‘We’ll be able to get out of the school room and collect reeds from the river!’ Nakht grinned. Collecting reeds would be much more fun than chanting texts aloud or copying endless hieroglyphics onto bits of old stone and pottery that they called ‘ostraca’. ‘We must be getting better at writing if Nobt is letting us learn about papyrus,’ said Nakht. ‘Of course we’re getting better,’ scoffed Kassim. ‘But old Nobt won’t let us use papyrus yet; it’s much too expensive. We’ll be using ostraca for ages. But it will be fun to get out onto the river. I wonder if we’ll see any hippos.’ Nobt was a strict teacher. He had used his thin, reed cane many times on boys in his care. Disobedience and laziness were not tolerated in his room and the punishments were severe. There were only four boys in Nakht’s class. Their fathers were all scribes. Two held positions of high office at Pharaoh’s court. Nobt glared at the four boys in the small room where they

did their studies and his voice was firm. ‘Today we will learn about papyrus,’ he told them. ‘You will come with me to watch the workmen in the river cutting down reeds, and if you are sensible you will be allowed to help. It is not an occasion for silliness,’ he added sternly. ‘Irresponsible behaviour will be punished by a good beating. This is a chance for you to find out how papyrus is made and why it is so expensive.’ The boys followed their teacher down to the river, where boats of all shapes and sizes made their way up or downstream. Shouts and curses filled the air as tiny reed boats dodged larger boats laden with goods. Further down the river other cargo boats unloaded their wares at the docks. Nakht and his friends stared excitedly at the hustle and bustle. ‘If you look over there,’ Nobt pointed to an important looking person flanked by two other men, ‘you will see the head of irrigation. He is checking the river level to see how much the water has risen today. He will give this important information to Pharaoh.’ Nakht stared at the head of irrigation. The man had a worried look on his face.

‘Perhaps the river has gone down,’ thought Nakht, his eyes wandering over to where some small boats were being pushed into the reeds. The boatmen were using long poles to push the boats forwards. On each boat was a cat, tied to the side with a piece of twine to stop it falling in the river. The animals looked excited as a number of small birds flew up out of the reeds. The cats pounced quickly, each bringing down a small bird, which their masters took quickly from them. Nakht wondered how many birds they would catch that day. ‘Can you see any hippos?’ whispered Kassim. Nakht shook his head. There was too much activity on the river at this time of the day for the hippos. They would probably be further down the river where it was more peaceful and muddy. Nobt steered them towards the marshy river delta, where the papyrus grew best. There were about six men working there, carefully harvesting the reeds. They used sharp knives to cut the stems, then stacked the reeds in bundles ready to be carried away. ‘Many things in Egypt are made from papyrus, as you know,’ began

old Nobt. ‘The sandals you have on your feet come from papyrus, as do the baskets in your homes and the small fishing boats you see on the river. ‘We will now go to the workshop where men cut the reeds into pieces and make the papyrus paper.’ They left the river bank and made their way to a small village nearby, where the papyrus workshop was. They saw bundles of reeds stacked carefully in a corner of the room while in the middle four workmen cut the reeds into small lengths. The boys gathered around one of the workmen, who showed them how to peel away the green outer skin. He then carefully sliced the white pith inside lengthways into wafer-thin slices, using a knife with a bronze blade. Next, he took the strips and laid them crossways on a block. When this was done, he placed a cloth over the pith and began to beat it with a heavy mallet. ‘The cloth absorbs the moisture, and the beating helps to flatten the pith even more, as well as taking out the moisture,’ explained Nobt. ‘When they are dry, the sheets will be polished with a stone to make them smooth so that people can

write on them. It is a long process. You can see why papyrus is expensive and why you are not yet allowed to use it.’ The workmen allowed each boy a turn at laying the pith on the pounding blocks and beating it. Nakht enjoyed himself, and for once the time passed very quickly. Before he knew it the day was over and he was on his way home. His mother placed a plate of chicken, onions and garlic in front of him and patted his head gently. ‘Your father will be late tonight,’ she said. ‘It seems there is trouble at the palace.’ Nakht looked up. ‘Trouble? What trouble?’ His mother frowned slightly. ‘I am not sure, but I heard some gossip in the market place today when I went to buy meat and wine. I cannot believe it was true, for Pharaoh is not an old man but in the prime of his life.’ ‘But what has happened?’ asked Nakht, putting down his eating tools. ‘They say he is dying,’ replied his Mother. ‘And the rumour is that he has been poisoned!’

Word work

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

Give the meaning of the following words:

1. Where does the story take place? 2. Is the story set in modern times or not? How can you tell? 3. Why does Nakht not enjoy going to school?

woebegone exempt taxes harvesting

4. What profession does Nakht hope to join?

hieroglyphics

5. What is ostraca and what do Nakht and Kassim use it for?

delta

6. Why is Nakht looking forward to the hippo hunt? 7. What is papyrus made from? 8. Why do you think boat travel might be slightly hazardous? 9. In what way might Nobt be considered a strict teacher?

Extension work 1. List the steps needed in order to make papyrus from reeds. 2. How would people have travelled in Egypt long ago? 3. Why do you think the river is such a busy place? 4. Write an article for an Egyptian newspaper describing what has happened to Pharaoh. Make up a suitable name for the newspaper. 5. Write an advertisement for a new worker to help build the pyramid. Make the advertisement as attractive as possible to entice people to apply. 6. Nakht is told to be proud of learning to be a scribe. Why? 7. How do we know that there is trouble at the palace?

Rescue? Smoke billowed out from the small aircraft. Both wings had come off in the crash and bits of fuselage and other debris littered the mountainside. The four children crawled out of the broken machine. They were shocked and frightened. The cold hit them quickly, making their teeth chatter. Thank heaven they had survived, and though the pilot seemed to be unconscious, she was still breathing. ‘What do we do now?’ whispered Niang, her face white with shock. Goron stared at the aircraft in bewilderment. It had all happened so quickly. One minute they were flying, the next they were hurtling downwards in a sickening dive, out of control. Somehow the pilot had managed to turn the aircraft into the trees and they had missed smashing face first into the mountain. Goron could still feel the hideous bumping and lurching as the plane plunged through the dense forest, cracking and snapping the branches until at last it had come to a stop. They looked about them. It seemed as if the entire contents of the little aircraft had spilled out over the mountain: their luggage, blankets, seats … . Around them the giant fir trees were bowed down with snow. The silence was enormous. Goron stared at the others. Minna was sitting on a rucksack crying quietly, Niang was comforting her, and Chandra was staring at the debris strewn on the ground. They were all shivering badly from shock and from cold. ‘I think we should get away from the plane,’ said Goron. ‘We should get down the mountain as fast as we can. It’s not safe here.’

Niang stared at him. ‘Go where?’ she asked. ‘Where could we go, Goron?’ Goron swallowed hard. He had no idea. The forest they were in was so dense they would have difficulty finding a way through. ‘I don’t know,’ he replied awkwardly. Niang stood and faced him. At eighteen, Goron might be the oldest, but he was talking rubbish! ‘We’re not going anywhere.’ Niang said firmly. ‘We must shelter here. If we start walking through the woods we’ll get lost. The pilot sent a mayday signal before we went down, and someone must have heard it. They’ll send a rescue party. If we move, the rescue party won’t find us.’ Goron stared at Niang. Her words made sense. ‘We have to keep warm and dry,’ Niang continued. ‘We can sit on seats from the plane and find something to make a shelter over us. First let’s see what’s in the plane.’ Gradually the shock and fright began to fade, and the four children started thinking about survival. Niang and Minna found a large plastic sheet which they hung between

two trees to make a rough tent. Goron and Chandra scattered fir tree branches over the ground beneath the tent to keep the heat in and brought in the broken seats from the plane. In the torn rucksacks they found extra clothing to put on and there were emergency blankets from the aircraft which would help keep them warm. They carefully carried the still unconscious pilot into their shelter, and covered her with blankets. Somehow Niang managed to get a fire burning using old magazines, and wood from some old packing cases which had been in the hold. They raided the remains of the plane’s tiny kitchen and Niang rigged up a small pot over the fire in which she put some snow. Soon they were sipping hot water from polystyrene cups and eating food scavenged from the plane. Niang shivered and stared fearfully out at the darkening forest. With any luck the fire would keep unwelcome animals away while acting as a beacon to any rescue party. She wondered if there were some flares in the aircraft to signal their position to any aircraft around. ‘We just need to get through the night,’ she thought fearfully. ‘If we can get through the night we’ll stand a chance.’ ‘Do you think there might be bears?’ asked Minna. ‘Or wolves?’ She trembled as she spoke. ‘I wish we’d stayed at home,’ she continued, with a sob in her voice. ‘I never wanted to go up to the Mountain Retreat anyway. I hate the cold. I want to go home. I want Mum and Dad!’ She burst into frightened tears. Niang quickly put her arms around the crying girl. ‘It’s alright Minna, someone will find us.

We should have arrived hours ago. The Retreat people will wonder where we are. Anyway the pilot sent a mayday signal, so we’ll be rescued soon.’ She spoke more confidently than she felt. It could be days before they were rescued and there was very little food. The plane hadn’t carried many supplies for such a short journey and so few passengers. They all slept fitfully that night. It grew colder and colder, forcing them to huddle together for warmth. With the dawn came snow. At first it only drifted down lightly. But gradually the snow grew thicker and thicker until they couldn’t see the trees ahead of them. Finally, Goron’s temper snapped. ‘We can’t just sit here doing nothing,’ he said angrily. ‘We’ve got to do something! I vote two of us make our way down the mountain and find help, while the others stay here.’ ‘And I vote we stay here,’ replied Niang angrily. ‘We’ve got no map and no idea of where we’re going. We’d be mad to leave now, with no shelter or food at all.’ ‘Right, like there’s tons of food and drink here.’ said Goron sarcastically. ‘There’s more than in the forest.’ Niang stood up abruptly. ‘What’s that?’ she whispered. Everyone tensed and listened. ‘Voices!’ replied Chandra. ‘There are voices … . Over here,’ he shouted loudly, ‘We’re over here!’ Out of the whirling snow came figures with lights and sledges. The children hugged one another in relief. They had been saved.

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. How many children are in this story? List their names.

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: dense

2. What has happened to the children?

unconscious

3. Who is the oldest of the children?

debris

4. Why do you think Niang takes charge?

lurching

5. How do the children make their shelter? 6. What reasons does Niang give for not leaving the area near the aircraft?

2. What does it mean if you sleep ‘fitfully’?

7. What is a mayday signal and why is it important? 8. Why do you think Niang spoke ‘more confidently than she felt’?

Extension work 1. In an emergency a lot of resourcefulness is needed. List four ways in which the children show their resourcefulness. 2. Imagine there is an emergency at school. You have to choose one member of your class to be the leader. Who would you choose and why? 3. Write a conversation between Niang and Goron in which Niang argues to stay by the plane while Goron says they should leave and go down the mountain. Both Niang and Goron should justify their reasons for leaving or staying. 4. Imagine: who are these children, and why were they on a plane flying to the Mountain Retreat? Are they related? What is the Mountain Retreat?

The Wind Duhlee had been hiding in the basement for hours. My six-year-old cousin had run down there as soon as the wind started howling and shrieking around the house. The wind was certainly unusually wild, whistling like a kettle as it found its way through unprotected nooks and crannies. The shutters on the old house banged and rattled against the pitted stonework, sending Mother and Aunt Anna flying upstairs to secure them all tightly. In the basement, Duhlee had covered her ears and wrapped herself in the old sheets and blankets that were stored there. No one had been able to coax her out, not even her sister Maya, who had tried to lure her with promises of honey and raspberry tarts. ‘She’ll come out when she’s ready, Una,’ Aunt Anna said, rolling out another batch of pastry thinly. ‘Let her be.’ But Duhlee had not appeared, even when supper was ready. ‘Do you think she’s all right?’ I whispered to Maya, as she stoked the kitchen stove and fed it with more logs.

Maya smiled comfortingly and patted my shoulder. She’s alright. Duhlee always runs off to the basement when there’s a storm. She thinks the wind is coming to take her away!’ I looked startled. ‘What do you mean?’ Maya snuggled beside me on the faded, old chair. ‘Grandmother told us a story once about a little girl who boasted to the wind that she was far stronger than it was. The wind became angry and turned itself into a tornado. It plucked the child up and carried her far, far away to a land where it was always winter and the wind blew angrily all day and night. The little girl was cold and frightened but she refused to let the wind get the better of her. She walked for many days and nights, while the wind whipped around her chilled body and taunted her. The girl walked on until she came to a wide and desolate plateau. The wind was far worse there, with no trees or bushes to protect her from its buffeting. Eventually the child raised her head upwards to the sky and pleaded with the wind. “Great Wind,” she said, “you are indeed great and mighty. You have shown me your strength daily. Grant me at least one day’s respite from your chilling breath so that I might cross the plain in safety and reach my home.” The wind growled and twisted around her but its mighty breath was milder and its voice was, for once, gentle. “You have shown yourself to be stronger than I. Though I tormented you incessantly for days and nights, never once did you complain. You were cold and hungry, but never once gave up, though the way was hard. Cross the plain in peace; I shall not

challenge you.” With that, the wind lifted, leaving the child in peace.’ Maya stopped speaking and smiled at me. ‘What happened to the girl?’ I whispered. ‘She reached home. But she never forgot that journey. And now when the wind blows, she is respectful towards him.’ ‘But Duhlee? What is frightening Duhlee?’ ‘She thinks that the wind is coming to get her and take her away, so she hides. Don’t worry, she’ll come out when William returns. William was Duhlee’s elder brother. He worked as a forest ranger, ensuring no thieves entered and chopped down the precious wood for fires and buildings. William spent his days in the forest, driving around the rutted paths in a battered old jeep and caring for his beloved trees. Duhlee worshipped her gentle older brother. He often brought her little gifts from the forest: strangelyshaped twigs, pieces of bark, pine cones. She loved to listen to the stories he would tell of his day with the trees. To Duhlee, they were real adventures in which he was the hero. She longed to go with him on his adventures but Mother said the forest was no place for a young girl. That night, William arrived home late. Maya and I had waited up for him. ‘You had no need to wait up, Maya,’ he said. ‘How are you, Cousin Una?’ He bent down and kissed my cheeks respectfully. ‘You’ve grown,’ he added, with a smile. ‘When I last saw you, you were only this high.’ He gestured with his hands to a spot above his waist. ‘You are a young lady now!’ I beamed with pleasure. Maya handed him a hot drink which he gulped down greedily.

‘Duhlee’s in the basement,’ said Maya flatly. ‘She won’t come up!’ William’s eyes darkened with concern. He shrugged off his coat and put down his drink. ‘I’ll go to her,’ he replied. William pushed open the door. The basement was filled with old bric-abrac from times gone by. It was like a graveyard of the past where memories clung like spiders’ webs, long forgotten. In a dark corner lay a huddle of blankets and sheets. ‘Duhlee!’ whispered William gently, kneeling carefully beside her. The blankets and sheets shifted and moved slightly. A small, frightened face, framed by a faded floral bedcover, looked up at him. ‘Has the wind gone, William?’ William smiled, cradling her gently in his arms. ‘No, Duhlee, but it brought you a present to apologize for frightening you. Look!’ He held out his hand. There, nestling in his palm, was a necklace Duhlee had lost months earlier. ‘The wind must have blown it into the forest for me to find. The wind is kind, Duhlee, it knew how much you missed the necklace and did all it could to return it to you.’ Duhlee clutched the beloved necklace to her chest. ‘Mother will be glad too,’ she whispered. ‘It was her gift to me. I must thank the wind.’ She stood up and made her way slowly up to the kitchen. Standing on tiptoe she twisted the heavy catch on the window, and pushed it open. A gentle gust of wind blew in, ruffling her hair. Duhlee looked up into the dark night sky. ‘Thank you,’ she said in a small, clear voice. ‘Thank you for finding my necklace.’ She felt a soft gust of wind brush across her cheeks, and a faint sigh which sounded very much like, ‘You’re welcome.’

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence: 1. Of what is Duhlee afraid and why? 2. Who is relating this story and what relation are they to William and Maya? 3. Where is Duhlee hiding and why do you think she has gone there? 4. Why did Duhlee first get frightened about the wind? 5. What is William’s job? 6. What might damage the forest if William doesn’t prevent it? 7. How does William persuade Duhlee to face the wind?

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words: nestling

gulped

coax

incessantly

desolate

bric-a-brac

2. Find some words which describe the wind’s ferocity. 3. Which words or phrases tell us that the basement is a place for disused things? 4. Find synonyms for these words: raised chilling beloved

protect

8. Why is the necklace significant to Duhlee? 9. What do you think might be the moral of the story Maya tells about the little girl and the wind?

Extension work 1. What do you learn about William’s personality from the passage? 2. By the end of the story, do you think Duhlee has conquered her fear of the wind? Explain your reasons. 3. Have you a fear of something? Describe what frightens you and find out if others share the same fear. How might you conquer this fear? 4. Write your own story which contains a moral.

Jasmin Fitzroy If you happened to glance at Jasmin Fitzroy as you strolled along the pavement, you could sometimes see that she rode a broomstick. She disguised it as a bicycle, of course, but every so often her magic would slip and the top of the handle and the tips of the bristles would be revealed. This came as a complete shock to ordinary people, who could not believe what they were seeing. When her bike lost some of its magic like this, Jasmin would often be oblivious of the problem until she gradually became aware of shouts and catcalls from passersby, especially children. Then she would be alerted to the likely reason and take speedy action. Speedy action meant getting off the bicycle/broom as fast as she was able and chanting a hasty spell which restored the broom’s disguise and allowed her time to get home where she could sort out the problem properly. Jasmin knew that the broom was becoming a hazard. It was dreadfully old and she should really have replaced it years ago, only she had not had the heart. Her witching magazines regularly displayed an assortment of glorious new models, but Jasmin could not bear to part with a faithful, old friend. They had grown old together, and had shared many exciting adventures as well as a number of rather alarming accidents. On this particular Thursday, the bike/ broom did its usual trick. Jasmin leapt

off and chanted her restorative spell, then patted the broom gently. ‘Not far now, Wingswift,’ she muttered, ‘and then Miggins and I will sort you out.’ She weaved in and out of a couple of cars, turned right down a narrow lane, then headed towards the countryside. Jasmin refused to live in the town. She hated the busy traffic, the crowds of people and the confusing array of shops that sold strange things she had no use for. Her home was a small cottage near to a large dairy farm. Jasmin pedalled steadily on until she reached a pretty cottage whose front porch was covered in climbing roses. The door was opened by a large, black cat, which scowled crossly at her. ‘Where have you been?’ Miggins asked, glaring at Jasmin. ‘Have you forgotten the bogweed we were supposed to be brewing?’ Jasmin put a hand to her mouth and her face creased in annoyance. ‘Oh rats!’ She removed the disguising spell from the

broom, which shuddered in relief and sank slowly to the ground. ‘I’d forgotten about the bogweed, Miggins,’ she began. ‘But first we need to sort this. There’s a problem with the broom.’ Miggins rolled his eyes. ‘Not again,’ he sighed. ‘Don’t you think it’s about time you bought a new one?’ Jasmin glared at the big, black cat. ‘Not in front of you-know-who,’ she hissed, jerking her head towards the broom, which had begun to twitch nervously. She sighed. Sometimes Miggins could be so tactless. Miggins had been Jasmin’s familiar for many years. He had turned up on her doorstep one freezing winer’s day and had asked her to take him in. Astonished that he could speak, Jasmin had offered him a trial period of two weeks as her witch’s cat. By the end of the next day, she was wondering how she had ever managed without him. Miggins, she discovered, had an impressive array of talents. He could read and understand all the spells in the Great Book and knew eight languages including Ancient Greek and Latin. Miggins was also a skilled craftsman, particularly where metalwork and carpentry were involved. When the roof leaked, he would be up there with a whisk of his tail, repairing the problem. It was Miggins who answered the telephone and dealt with her customers. He also had a magic touch with Wingswift the broom.

Miggins had never said where he learnt his skills and Jasmin had never asked. He was simply her right-hand cat and for that she was inordinately grateful. She watched him now, scrutinising the broom carefully, tapping it gently with a single claw. ‘What do you think?’ she asked anxiously.

Miggins looked up. ‘I think it’s time Wingswift retired. She’s overworked and exhausted. She needs a break.’ The broom began twitching again and Jasmin flinched. She picked up the broom and hugged it to her chest. Tears sprang to her eyes and began dribbling down her cheeks. ‘But what will I do without her?’ she whispered miserably, carrying the broom reverently into the cottage and laying it on the kitchen table.

‘We’re going to find you a lovely new broom,’ began Miggins in a hearty voice. ‘And then Wingswift can have the retirement she so badly needs. It’s not as if you’re throwing her away. She’ll always be here, only she won’t have to worry about going into town and dodging the traffic.’ Jasmin sighed deeply and sank into a chair. She knew her cat was right. ‘Miggins,’ she said wearily, ‘bring me that copy of New Broom Weekly.’

Questions Answer the following questions with a full sentence:

Word work 1. Give the meaning of the following words:

1. Who or what is Jasmin Fitzroy?

oblivious

exhausted

2. How would a passer-by know that Jasmin rides a broomstick?

restorative

assortment

3. Why does Jasmin refuse to live in the town?

2. What is a ‘familiar’?

4. When Jasmin arrives back at the cottage, Miggins is cross with her. Why is this?

3. Jasmin refers to Miggins as being ‘tactless’. What does this mean?

5. What reasons does Miggins give for retiring Wingswift? 6. How do we know that Jasmin is fond of her broom?

4. Jasmin ‘removed the disguising spell from the broom, which shuddered in relief and sank slowly to the ground.’ Why do you think the broom shudders with relief?

7. How do we know that Jasmin is finally prepared to get a new broom?

Extension work 1. How do you think people in the street feel when they notice that Jasmin is riding a broomstick? 2. Imagine you are Miggins. What prompted you to make a new home with Jasmin? 3. You are Miggins. Describe what you were doing before you arrived at Jasmin’s home. 4. From what you have read about Miggins, what do you know about his character? 5. Suppose Miggins was your cat. Which of his special qualities would you most appreciate? 6. Suppose you had a familiar of your own. What animal would it be and why? What special qualities would it have? 7. Imagine you are Jasmin. Explain what you are going to use the bogweed for. 8. Suggest some names for Jasmin’s new broom. 9. Describe one of the adventures Jasmin had with her old broom, Wingswift.

Answers Letter of Complaint (page 14) Questions 1. Clementina is writing to complain about the unsatisfactory meal she has had at the restaurant. 2. It took 20 minutes for the waiter to arrive to take their drinks order and then a further 20 minutes for the drinks to arrive. 3. Sitting near the kitchen was a problem because the staff kept bumping their chairs when they went past. 4. The suit worn by one of the guests had tomato juice spilt down it by one of the waiters. 5. It is not a good thing to see rats outside the restaurant because it shows that their level of hygiene is probably not very good, they may also not dispose of their rubbish properly which has enticed the rats to the area. 6. Clementina has sent copies of the letter to the Health and Safety Inspectorate and to the Great Grub Guide where the restaurant is listed. 7. The first course was returned because it was cold. Word work Complain – to have a grievance about something, to grumble about something Undrinkable – when you are unable to drink something because it does not taste nice Congregating – when people gather together in a particular spot Grudgingly – to do something but with great unwillingness Hygienic – to be clean and free from bacteria and other dirt Extension work (Answers will vary as a personal response is required. Marks should be awarded for imaginative, creative responses and lateral

thinking.) The Evil Genie Strikes (page 16) Questions 1. Georgia has found a bottle. When she found the bottle, Georgia was digging out a fossil from under the sand. 2. Georgia thinks that there might be a message in the bottle. 3. Georgia hopes that she will have her picture in the papers all over the world, she might also sell her exclusive story to the newspapers as well as have the story turned into a book and then a film. 4. The genie has been in the bottle for 8,000 years. 5. Georgia hopes that the genie will grant her three wishes. 6. The genie is annoyed with Georgia for disturbing his rest. 7. The genie punishes Georgia by lifting her up in his hands and tipping her out on a sandy beach far away. Word work 1. Odd – peculiar Stranded – to be left in difficulties Desperate – leaving no room for hope Jammed – stuck, unable to budge Flashy – showy 2. To be hailed as a hero means to be acknowledged as a saviour, someone who has done something brave to help others. Extension work 1. The cork is stuck in the bottle because it is incredibly old and has become stuck. (Accept answers similar to this.) 2–8. (Require a personal response and will therefore vary. Marks should be awarded for imaginative, creative responses and lateral

thinking.) The Body in The Greenhouse (page 19) Questions 1. Snapp’s full title is Detective Inspector. 2. I do not think Snapp found it easy to question Mrs Ponsonby because she is quite clearly lying and she is trying to evade her questions. 3. We know she is lying because she told the police she had been at home all morning and yet Mr Porter saw her in the post office with a parcel. She was also seen in the garden with a coffee cup when she said she had not been in the garden all day. 4. The body was discovered in the greenhouse by Mrs Ponsonby’s daughter, Loretta. 5. The conversation between Deara and Snapp is fast moving to show they are thinking fast and are working in a business-like fashion. It also helps to move the pace and suspense along more quickly. 6. The greenhouse is hot to help the plants grow more quickly and to keep the climate as stable as possible. 7. From the passage I infer that he died of shock when he saw the state of his tulips and if he grew the special tulips himself and devoted himself to them, he would be devastated. If he was elderly then the shock would be greater. 8. Snapp feels that the tulips are a clue because they were grown specifically for the Crinkley Flower Show, they were also decapitated which shows that someone else knew about them and was angry that they had been grown. They were also a threat to another person entering the competition who

felt they might be better than something they had grown. Word work 1. Experimenting – to be trying something out, perhaps an experiment to see if it will work or not Evaded – to avoid doing something Stifling – to be very hot and airless Mangled – ruined, destroyed 2. Secateurs are used for pruning plants. 3. A chance piece of information is news that is given to someone quite by chance or out of the blue. Extension work (Answers will vary as a personal response is required.) The Mysterious Case of the Eukanuba Diamond (page 22) Questions 1. The story is being told by Naomi. 2. The storyteller first met Doctor Akinato at the Athena Club in Piccadilly. 3. The doctor’s eyeglass caught the storyteller’s eye at first. 4. The doctor comes from Tutukimbo. 5. The doctor is obviously eccentric. She is a slight woman who was wearing flowing purple robes and had an eyeglass. 6. We know that the doctor is not poor because we are told that she is fantastically wealthy and is the owner of many diamonds. The clothes she is wearing and the spyglass also denote wealth. 7. We are told that she is the owner of the Eukanuba diamond. 8. The doctor is on the island of Zambo to study the reproduction of the Smaller Spotted Sea Turtle. 9. The doctor is frightened because she thinks that her

life is in danger. Word work 1. Legend – a traditional story or myth Discreetly – to do or ask someone something without letting everyone else know about it Humour – state of mind or mood Brilliance – shining with great intensity Eccentric – to be slightly odd or whimsical Naturalist – a person who devotes their time to the study of nature 2. When the Doctor says ‘you are my only hope’ she means that there is no one else who can help her. 3. ‘They have dogged my footsteps’ means that the person has been followed everywhere they go relentlessly. Extension work (Require a personal response so answers will vary.) The Foreteller Casket (page 25) Questions 1. The gem was a great, purple stone. 2. Once they had poured all their knowledge into the gem, they cut it into small, perfect pieces and set these into a beautiful casket. They locked the casket and named it the Foreteller Casket. 3. They gave the casket to Queen Wagron to keep the casket safe from Lord Grimcrake. 4. It was called the Foreteller Casket because the gems it contained could help a wise person to foretell the future and give them the power to destroy evil before it happened. 5. It ended up in the sea when Wagron’s son threw it into the sea rather than give it to a servant of the dark lord. 6. The casket appeared on dry land when the waves washed

7.

8.

it up on to the shore after a fierce storm. Theoder wanted to return the casket to the sirens because he recognized its true value and wanted to ensure it was returned to the Caverns of Hope, its rightful home. The sea released its guardianship of the casket because there was a particularly fierce storm that wrenched it from its resting place.

Word work 1. Siren – a beautiful woman who entices people, in particular men, to them Elvan – to do with the elves Assembled – gathered together Guardianship – a person who is in the position of looking after the interests of another Skirmish – a brief, quick fight Mortal – to be mortal in other words to live and then die 2. If someone gives you their blessing it means that they are glorifying you. In the passage Theodar gives his blessing to his daughters, he gives them his love and good wishes and sends them on their journey with his permission. Extension work (Answers will vary as a personal response is required.) The Time Machine (page 28) Questions 1. Ricksha has hidden her invention in the cellar. 2. She has used an old bicycle for her invention together with other bits and pieces such as an old motorcycle sidecar, an old chair, knobs and dials, a flat screen computer and a computer keyboard. 3. She got the idea for making her invention from watching a film about a time machine. 4. I think that Ricksha has waited for her parents to leave the house in order that she

5.

6.

7.

can be left alone to try out her invention without being disturbed. Ricksha is planning to travel to the jungle to see some gorillas. She has chosen this destination because it is less hazardous than other places and because she is cautious. Ricksha would like to find out more about The Great Indian Mutiny but this is a hazardous period of history and she might be put in a difficult situation. Ricksha allows her sister to join her in order to keep her quiet and to stop her from telling Mum and Dad what she has been up to.

Word work Impatiently – to do something quickly without waiting Gingerly – to move forwards or do something with slight trepidation and wariness Evaporated – turn into vapour Hazardous - dangerous Extension work (Answers will vary as a personal and creative response is required.) Topleigh Manor (page 31) Questions 1. Topleigh Manor was given to Lord William Gravescone by Elizabeth I for loyal service to the crown. 2. Queen Elizabeth visited Topleigh in order to enjoy the hunting. 3. Topleigh provided a safe haven for the young Charles II in his flight from anti-royalist Roundheads. 4. The manor fell into disrepair in the 1920s due to the excesses of Custar, the tenth Lord Gravescone. He gambled away the family’s inheritance and dabbled in the occult. 5. The manor was saved by Lady Cynthia, Custar’s wife, who made some much needed changes. She

6.

7.

8.

cut back on unnecessary expenses, reduced staff numbers and opened the manor house and gardens to the public. She also started to regenerate the home farm. Nowadays the manor brings in income from the home farm and the farm shop where you can buy rugs made from the wool of the Sharp-horned goat. You can also book the manor for weddings and ghost weekends. The ghost weekend involves staying for two nights at the manor in the elegant, comfortable bedrooms. There are three meals a day and evening walks in the gardens to search for haunted spots where ghosts may show themselves. The three unnecessary expenses that may have been incurred are holidays abroad, gambling and parties.

Word work Intoxicated – drunk Salver – silver plate Prudent – to be careful, to do something wisely Royalist – someone who supports the monarchy Disrepair – to be in a state of dilapidation Venue – a place where an event is held Extension work (Answers will vary as they require a personal and creative response.) Trouble at the Bunbury Bloater Club (page 33) Questions 1. Fred and Maeve enjoy fishing. 2. The phrase that tells us that the club is normally a quiet place is: ‘raised voices were rarely heard at the Bunbury.’ 3. When Fred looks through the door to reception he sees Maeve Pumfrey shouting and wearing a large chicken costume. She was also

4. 5. 6.

7.

8.

carrying a bow and arrows. Mary Goosesnottle is the Club’s chairwoman. Maeve thinks that the potion she has drunk gives her special powers. Maeve believes that she will be able to catch the largest fish in the river as a result of drinking the herbal potion and that it will help her to see into the future. The disruption Maeve is causing is: she has damaged the picture of the club founder by firing arrows at it, she has run around the table in the centre of the hall, she has charged around the dining room upsetting a soup tureen, she has fired arrows into the walls and tables. The other diners are not happy with the situation because there are shouts of alarm from them and angry mutterings.

Word work 1. Bloater – a type of fish Bellow – to shout loudly and deeply Tureen – a deep bowl-like dish into which soup is put Tribulation – misery, trouble Placate – to try and calm something or someone Braced – to ready yourself or prepare yourself for something to happen 2. ‘Raised voices were rarely heard at the Bunbury’, means that the club is a quiet place where people do not speak loudly or draw attention to themselves. Extension work 1. I think that the Bunbury Bloater Club is special for people there because it is a place where members can go and relax quietly with friends. 2–4. (Answers will vary as they require a personal and creative response.) The Mysterious Case of the

Eukanuba Diamond Continues … (page 36) Questions 1. The Doctor thinks that her mother is after the diamond. 2. The character of Doctor Akinato’s mother changed when she met Professor Ravioli. 3. Professor Ravioli and Doctor Akinato’s mother threw themselves into the lake wearing only crocodile skins. 4. The professor tried to get the diamond from the doctor by offering her a huge sum of money for it. 5. He tried to get hold of the diamond by stealing it. 6. The doctor’s mother got hold of the diamond from the professor by throwing him off the top of the villa’s tower and killing him! 7. If the diamond is inserted into the skin of the crocodile, the gem acquires deadly powers. Word work 1. Menace – threat of danger Rightful – when something or someone is the correct owner Clad – dressed Unfamiliar – when something is not known to somebody 2. This phrase means that the professor has the doctor’s mother in his power. 3. The words used to show that Ravioli is not a good man are: ‘aura of menace’, ‘enemy’. Extension work 1. Doctor Akinato’s Mother was a good woman and a friend to all before she met Professor Ravioli. After she met him, the professor had her in his clutches. She became hysterical and evil and was quite capable of murder to achieve her ends. 2–5. (Require a personal response

and will therefore vary.) 1. Game Ranger Diaries (page 39) Questions 1. One of the game Rangers has been writing the diary. 2. They think that the bones are being taken to be made into medicine. 3. Ramu is the old, male lion. 4. Marion thinks that Ramu might have got his wound from fighting two young males. 5. It is important that Ramu recovers so that he can protect his pride and prevent a takeover. 6. Marion is very unhappy about Mr Lewis’ arrival because she does not want hunting on the reserve. 7. Mr Lewis’ arrival will help the reserve because the money that he pays them to hunt the old eland bull will be put back into the reserve to protect and sustain it. 8. I think that the two young males attacked the pride again in the night. (Answers will vary, but accept other information which describes what else might have happened and why, eg the cubs might have been killed, the females were wounded and scattered, Ramu might have been killed or fatally injured.) Word work Pride of lions – a collective term for a group of lions Infected – when something is diseased like a wound or cut Starvation – to be desperately lacking in food and are on the verge of death from a food shortage Confirmation – when something is verified Sanctuary – a place of refuge Extension work 1–2. (Require a personal, imaginative response that

should relate to the passage.) The rest of the pride might get in the way of the operation because they are curious to find out what is happening. They might also get in the way because they are trying to protect Ramu from intruders from outside. 4. (A personal response is required.) 5. The Cheetah Breeding Sanctuary is where cheetahs are bred in order to boost cheetah numbers. They help to return them to the wild. They also have a king cheetah breeding programme, to help boost king cheetahs which are very rare. 6–7. (Require a personal response.) 3.

Trick or Treat (page 42) Questions 1. Hannah is telling the story. 2. The children are celebrating Halloween. We know this because the passage says ‘trick or treat’ and Jasmine reminds the others that she wants to go ‘trick or treating’. 3. The children are at the house because Reece has promised them all his sweets if they try the house. 4. Hannah is scared because there are many rumours about Mr Brown in the area and some of them are not very nice rumours. 5. The children know that Mr Brown is in the house because they can see a thin beam of light through a chink in the curtains and a wisp of smoke coming out of the chimney. 6. Jasmine says that if Declan does not ring the doorbell, then the goblins will get him and drag him into their caverns deep under the ground. 7. At the end of the passage we learn that Mr Brown is an elderly man with a friendly smile. We also learn that he

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has a gentle voice which tells us that he is keen to show the children that the rumours are unfounded and he is not scary. He also understands children because he is holding out a bowl of sweets and knows that they are celebrating Halloween and is ready. (Responses may also include something to do with him having a possible sixth sense as if he knew they were coming which is why he had the sweets ready.) We know that the house once had a beautiful front garden because we are told that Hannah’s Nan remembers the garden when it had been looked after and has told them about the neat emerald lawn and the flower beds and the birds fluttering around the stone bird table.

Word work 1. Gnarled – twisted in an ungainly manner Gloomy – miserable looking in appearance and atmosphere Hunched – when one’s shoulders are stooped 2. Some words which suggest that the house does not look happy are: gloomy, old, dark, forbidding, cracked and broken brickwork. 3. Six nouns from the passage: path, house, lawn, cats, wizard, bowl, sweets, thorns, face, roof, walls, garden, goblins. 4. Six adjectives from the passage: tall, hunched, gnarled, small, little, pale, white, tiny, emerald, grey, dark, forbidding. 5. Four verbs from the passage: smothered, killing, smiling, squinting, twisting, fluttering. Extension work 1. I think that the message the passage is conveying is that you should not listen to

the gossip of others and not spread rumours because they might be unfounded. 2. I think people pass on rumours about Mr Brown because they know nothing about him and they are keen to show that they do know something, even when they don’t. People also pass on rumours often out of fear because they don’t understand people. Mr Brown keeps to himself so they assume that he has an unsavoury past. 3–5. (Require a personal response and will therefore vary.) Treason (page 45) Questions 1. Treason is when an individual or individuals plot to bring down the monarchy and take the throne for themselves. 2. The chancellor is reluctant to see the king because he brings bad news and he is not keen to be the one to have to impart the bad news, especially if he is punished for bringing it. 3. King Frederick views kingship as a burden. Round every corner was someone who wished him ill. 4. The parchment that is put before the king is undoubtedly the death warrant of his friend which he, as king, is expected to sign. 5. I think that King Frederick wishes to be alone so that he can gather his thoughts and consider the situation. It also gives him the opportunity to decide whether to sign the death warrant or not and to grieve alone for the loss of a dear friend. 6. Lord Cecil Harvey commits treason because he wants the throne for himself. 7. Initially the king did not believe the evidence that was brought to him. It thought that it was all lies which had been made up to frame an innocent

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man and discredit him in the eyes of his monarch. Lord Cecil is envious and arrogant. He is capable of treason just to get what he wants.

Word work 1. Manacles – chains around the wrists, old-fashioned handcuffs Envied – when you grudge another person’s good fortune Misjudged – when you think you have judged a situation or atmosphere correctly and then you realize you have not. Discredit – try to dishonour someone or something, to make them look bad in the eyes of others Penalty – the punishment 2. ‘Kingship carries with it too many burdens’. This statement means that the king finds that his position as king is often very difficult with many tough decisions and actions to be made or taken. 3. To have the ear of the king means that the king is willing to confide in you and listen to any advice you may give, it is a powerful position to be in. Extension work (Answers will vary as a personal response is required.) Achievement (page 48) Questions 1. Adrian Pottle will soon be fifty years old. 2. The passage is set in the autumn. 3. Adrian has the job of a carer in a home for the elderly and disabled. He has been there for thirty years. 4. Adrian has on occasion considered changing his job, moving on to something bigger and better, when he has had a rough day. He

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always changes his mind when he has a good day and sees the faces of the elderly people light up. David Soames is known by the nickname ‘Tooter’. I think it is an appropriate nickname in view of the fact that when he was young he wanted to be an engine driver and engines make a tooting sound when they sound their whistles! Adrian compares himself to Daisy by saying that compared with him she has achieved an awful lot. She does something terribly important in government, she takes her family on expensive holidays and they are always going to exotic places. Adrian’s family always went to the seaside in Devon. Adrian’s children are called Emma and Lucas. Lucas is a teacher like his mother and Emma is training to be a dentist. The phrase which tells us that Adrian has achieved a great deal and is grateful is: ‘Adrian Pottle leant back against the garden shed and counted his blessings.’

Word work 1. Scruffy – untidy to look at Expensive – something that is costly to buy Exotic – brought in from abroad, something that is foreign Abundance – great plenty 2. ‘Adrian’s friends have exceeded their ambitions’. This means that all his friends have achieved what they set out to do in life and have done even better than they had intended. 3. ‘Risen like a phoenix from a fire’ means that Adrian’s house has been developed and expanded

from nothing/very little. 4. Compared – contrasted Rough – (in this context) difficult Extension work 1. Adrian has renovated his home with his wife. They have improved the garden. He has a worthwhile job at a care home. He has two children who have got good careers ahead of them. He is still happily married. 2–7. (Answers will vary as a personal response is required.) The Diary of Lord Ambrose Pagett (page 51) Questions 1. I do not think Lord Ambrose works for a living because there is no mention of his doing a job. He is also wealthy enough to have servants and a big town house. He goes to his club to read the papers and relax. 2. From his diary we learn that Lord Ambrose has a very indulgent lifestyle. He has a club, servants, he goes to balls and parties and spends the weekend with friends. 3. Edith Egerton loses her diamonds when she is robbed by a highwayman. 4. Lady Petunia’s country retreat can be found in Hampshire. 5. At Lady Petunia’s the guests amuse themselves by: being entertained by a poet, playing charades, listening to the ladies play musical instruments. 6. I think that Randalls is a gambling house for gentlemen where they play cards for high stakes. 7. Lord Arnold has lost over two thousand pounds and his favourite horse, Red Pepper. He shows no emotion because in those days it was considered very bad form for a gentleman to show grief over the loss of money at

cards! Word work Encountered – met Vulgar – coarse, common Monstrosity – something that is hugely revolting to look at, monster-like in shape and form Annoying – irritating Indulged – when something or someone is given everything they could possibly want all the time Extension work (Answers will vary as a personal response is required for them all.) The Honourable Percival Soames (page 54) Questions 1. Percival Soames is anxious because he has just killed a man. 2. We know that they have a strong friendship because Ambrose calls Percival ‘Percy’, Percival also tells Ambrose that he is ‘a good friend’. Ambrose is also willing to take time to listen to his friend and help him. 3. Spike the Knife thought he could get money out of Percival by blackmailing him for his silence. 4. Arthur is Percival’s brother. We are told that Arthur is always getting into scrapes which the family have to sort out and this latest scrape must involve cheating at cards. 5. Lord Ambrose advises Percival to go home and send for the police. He should explain that he was acting in self-defence and that he was being threatened. 6. I think Lord Ambrose asks his butler to forget he had seen Percival that evening so that Percival is not incriminated in any way and so that the police think that he has been at home all the time and has not

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gone out. Percival is galvanised into taking action against Spike the Knife when his favourite mare, Nellie, begins to get upset. This makes him angry so he hits Spike with the stirrup.

Word work 1. Haggard – wild looking, care worn Blackmailing – someone who is taking money from people by using threats against them Self-defence – to protect oneself using whatever means are at one’s disposal 2. A hardened criminal is someone who has committed a great many unpleasant crimes in his/ her lifetime and shows no moral scruples whilst committing them. 3. A successful conclusion means that the outcome is positive and satisfactory for all parties concerned. Extension work (Require a personal response.) The Bathroom (a play) (page 57) Questions 1. Kiera and Elliott have found that the tiles in their bathroom have been ruined by the builders next door and there are holes in the wall. 2. Kiera is upset about the tiles because she will never be able to get more tiles like them and they were beautiful. 3. They live in a flat. 4. Jared is going to help Kiera and Elliott by talking to the builders, because he from the managing agents office. 5. Mrs Zebronovitch is the owner of the flat next door and she is also an architect. 6. Elliott is gloomy at the end of the scene because he is doubtful that the wall will get repaired at all. 7. Kiera is hoping to get a new

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bathroom if she is lucky! Kiera is not happy about Mrs Zebronovitch’s first solution, she does not want the mess to be covered over as she feels it won’t be good enough. The whole bathroom has to be retiled and the holes carefully mended.

Word work 1. Ruined – something that has been completely destroyed Spurred – being urged into action Petite – of a small frame/build 2. If you patch something up it means that it is not yet properly mended, only briefly touched up or covered before proper repairs can take place. Extension work (Require a personal response.) Maya (page 60) Questions 1. Maya is different from other children because she has special gifts. 2. Her parents worry about her because she knows more than the other children and she can see into the future. They are concerned that the other children might think her a freak or a weirdo and they are worried she might not have any friends. 3. Maya knows that she is different because in the passage it tells us, ‘she knows she is gifted, but she doesn’t show off’. She can also read and give lucid explanations to the class and understands chemistry and physics. 4. Maya accepts she can do more than the other children and is keen to help them. 5. Mr Dimpling thinks Maya’s gifts could be useful, especially in respect of the lottery, because if Maya can see into the future she can tell him what the numbers might be and then he would win

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and make a lot of money. Her gift is also useful because it means that she can help to warn and protect people from getting hurt. One instance of Maya foretelling the future is when she warns Caz not to touch the new mural because she will get into trouble as the headmaster is on his way.

Word work 1. Worries – fears and anxieties someone may have Outcast – to be unwelcome as part of a group of people, to be shunned from their company Complexities – the intricate ins and outs of a situation which might make it difficult to understand or deal with Curriculum – the group of subjects studied 2. This means that Great Uncle Nero was not treated as a member of the family, he was shunned by them all and cast out. Extension work (Answers will vary as a personal response is required.) The Painting (part 1) (page 63) Questions 1. If something is cursed, it means that bad things will happen to those around it. 2. The painting is hanging in the hall of Sagwell Castle. 3. The painting cannot be cleaned or restored because if anyone takes it off the wall they will die. 4. After her husband’s death, Jane Bothwait fled to the family estate in Scotland with her three sons and most of the servants. 5. Amy came to inherit Sagwell because she is the niece of Donald and the next in line. 6. Agatha Whelkins warns Amy that the picture is cursed and advises her not to touch it or to let anyone else touch it or

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death will follow swiftly. Amy has come to Sagwell to destroy the painting and thereby release the curse. We know that the painting was painted by someone who knew Sagwell well, because it features details in it, like the forest and the pagoda, which require a good knowledge of the castle.

Word work 1. Grime – dirt Bequeath – to give to someone a gift (usually money) when one has died Oppressive – overwhelming, this usually refers to the weather which can be considered oppressive 2. A skeleton staff means only a small handful of people left to look after a property rather than the full complement of individuals. Extension work (Answers require a personal response.) The Appalling Day (page 66) Questions 1. The day starts badly for Daphne when her alarm clock fails to go off. 2. Daphne: arrives late for work, she has left her purse at home so she can’t buy lunch. Mrs Fothergill accuses her of producing an awful tissue box. There is no room on the bus so she has to walk home and finds she has forgotten her house keys. 3. Daphne works for a company called Big Ideas which is a packaging company. 4. Daphne misses lunch because she arrives at work so late that it is lunch time! 5. The problem with the Sneezies tissues is that there is a nasty, garish logo on the side and a man blowing his nose on the top of the box. The box itself is also a vile

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green colour. The visible features that tell us Mrs Fothergill is angry are: her face looks thunderous, her cheeks are florid and livid with rage, her eyes are also practically bulging out of her head. We are also told that she has a rant at Daphne. We learn that Mrs Fothergill is the type of woman who does not suffer fools gladly. She clearly expects total commitment from her staff. She is obviously unpleasant because no one wants to spend time with her and she makes people’s lives a misery by criticising their ideas and ability. Daphne is reluctant to retrieve the lottery ticket in case it is only someone playing a practical joke on her.

Word work 1. Appalling – dreadful, awful Scalding – excessively hot Garish – showy, gaudy Hoax – a nasty joke or trick Employee – someone who is employed, given work, by another Wrath – terrible anger Spartan – quite bare or empty 2. Four words to describe the deterioration of the weather are: darkened, dull, steel, grey, ominous clouds. Extension work (Require a personal response so the answers will vary.) Storm over Skullbone Island (page 69) Questions 1. Watkins is looking through his spyglass because he is monitoring the storm and something else over the horizon, the arrival of Screwy Scrawkins. 2. Flint is on Turtle Island because it is unknown to most people and this suits Flint very

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well. The men are cutting planks in order to repair the hull of the ship. Scrawkins is the terror of the high seas. He is a pirate who has a terrible reputation for killing people and destroying ships. Scrawkins has stolen Flint’s treasure from him. Flint and his men set the Sea Snake alight so that Scrawkins has no ship to follow them on. This will give them a chance to escape and get away from Scrawkins. The king’s men are the men who patrol the seas and keep the ordinary ships safe from pirates. The Olde Rattlebone Inne is the favourite haunt of the pirates, a place where they can eat and drink and make merry. It can be found at Bloodlust Bay. Two words which best describe the turbulent sea are: choppy and foam-filled.

Word work 1. Pistol – an old-fashioned gun held in the hand Haunt – visit regularly by ghosts Smuggler – a person who brings goods to shore by boat secretly at night time to evade the excise men Cutlass – old type of curved sword Horizon – the line where the sky and sea meet is known as the horizon Making merry – having a good time 2. Words that describe the weather are: thunder clouds, violent storm, storm, huge waves, flashes of lightning, choppy and foam-filled sea. Extension work (Questions will require a personal

response.) The Painting (part 2) (page 72) Questions 1. Mrs Hazel used to occupy herself by painting but she no longer does so because her eyes are not so good now. 2. The wolfhounds did not treat Custar as their master because he did not look after or feed them and he did not do any of their training, the gamekeeper did. 3. Clarissa Nottcutt took in laundry to earn some money whilst Abnor worked up at the castle doing odd jobs. Abnor also did some painting for people. 4. Abnor cursed the painting because his wife and child died of hunger and he wanted to get revenge. 5. Custar told Abnor he was not paying for the painting because the work was not good enough as it had been painted by his son. 6. Mrs Hazel knows a great deal about the Nottcutts and Bothwait because she is a descendant of Abnor Nottcutt’s sister. 7. Custar died alone one night in the pagoda, of a fit. Word work 1. Mural – painting or picture done on a wall Scrutinize – to look very carefully at something Talent – to be very good at doing something Boasted – to brag about something that you have done Reluctant – when someone is not keen to do something Destitute – to be without money at all and therefore desperately poor Gamekeeper – the person who looks after the land and animals of a landowner 2. A minstrels’ gallery is a place usually raised above a dining

area in an old house, where the musicians would sit and play whilst the diners ate their food. Extension work (Answers to questions will vary because they require a personal response.) Chapter 5: Collecting a Thayle Egg (page 75) Questions 1. A Thayle is a type of dragon 2. Catching a Thayle is not for the faint hearted, because it requires great patience and care. In order to catch one you have to undergo great challenges, which requires courage. 3. Dragon excrement is actually dragon poo and it is very important when catching your Thayle because if you smother yourself in it the Thayles will not attack you because you smell like them. 4. A groakus lizard is useful because these lizards often attack Thayle eggs and if you steal an egg with your hands wrapped in lizard skin, the Thayles will think the egg has been stolen by a lizard and not a human. 5. The best time of day to steal a Thayle egg is dawn when the dragons go off to search for food. 6. You have to keep the egg warm or the Thayle will die. 7. The two attributes a person needs if they are to capture a Thayle are patience and care. 8. You will know when your egg is ready to hatch because it turns a darker shade of blue. Word work 1. Dedication – to work tirelessly at something Meticulous – to be over particular about details Predation – search for food, hunting Nursemaid – a woman who looks after small children, in this

case a female dragon who looks after the baby dragons Infiltrated – manage to gain entry to something through nefarious/sneaky means Smother – to cover something, to choke or conceal Unpleasant – not very nice 2. Three words that describe the Thayle are: highly intelligent, excellent sense of smell, excellent hearing, dragonlike. Extension work (Personal responses are required and therefore answers will vary.) A Self-made Man (page 78) Questions 1. Mr Gossington has made his money out of two cotton factories, luck and a great deal of hard work. 2. Mr Gossington is shorter than a gentleman should be and he is also a little plump around the waist, his face is not one that would turn heads as his eyes are mournful and his lips down turned in what looks like a sneer. This is what makes people think he is not handsome. 3. Mr Gossington is not welcome in polite circles because he is a self-made man and because he does not speak properly. 4. We know that the story does not take place in modern times because we are told that there are horses and carriages and we do not have them today. By the way the characters speak to one another we know that it is set in the past at a time when the conventions of language were different and less colloquial than now. 5. Mrs Noakes has spent much of her life in India. 6. We learn that Mrs Noakes is an elderly lady who has a comfortable fortune left to her by her husband Gerald. She happily invites

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Mr Gossington to her home and treats him as an equal as she has now reached the age when she does not care what other people think of her. Mrs Noakes values people as individuals and for their conversation. She comes across as a kindly and encouraging individual who brings out the best in people. Mrs Noakes helps Mr Gossington by encouraging him to talk about his life and hopes.

Word work 1. Inherit – receive money or goods from someone who has died Mournful – sad Bachelor – a man who has not married and is still single Miracle – an unexpected event that is joyous and perhaps supernatural 2. ‘Took a generous size in belts’, means that he needs a big size because he is a large man. It is a polite way of saying that Mr Gossington is overweight. Extension work (Require a personal and imaginative response and will, therefore, vary.) The Wrong Spell (page 81) Questions 1. The name of the ship that got lost is ‘The Golden Chameleon’. 2. The ship disappears because the Speed Well spell has gone wrong. 3. The Speed Well spell went wrong because Wizard Wumpkin said the spell instead of singing the words. 4. Wizard Wumpkin performed the spell in order to get the ship to its destination faster. 5. The ship was carrying King Enobar’s treasure of jewels and coins. 6. Rosamund undoes the spell by singing the words of the

spell backwards. The wizards find out where the ship went by performing the Talking Spell which allows them to communicate with the ship and ask it where it went. 8. The cargo was stolen by the trolls in the Wild Lands as payment for entering their lands. 9. No one was on board the ship because it was enchanted and needed no crew. 10. The ship speaks in a sing song, old fashioned manner in contrast to the wizards who come across as quite modern and upbeat. (Accept variations on this.) 7.

Word work 1. Recoiled – take a step back in sudden revulsion or horror or surprise Apprentice – a young person learning a trade from another more experienced person Mentor – wise, trusted advisor Inanimate – something that does not move Inscrutable – mysterious, impenetrable, affording no explanation 2. ‘Slipped up badly’ means that Wizard Wumpkin has made a really awful mistake this time. Extension work (Require a personal response therefore the answers will vary.) Strike at the Workshop (page 84) Questions 1. The elves are on strike because they are fed up with the children demanding presents without asking nicely. 2. At first Father Christmas is rather loathe to go on strike because the children expect presents and all the things they have made will be wasted. Later on he comes round to the fact that the children are not as polite as they used to be and he

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realizes that he could do with a break. The elves suggest that the reindeer will put a note in every child’s stocking to explain why there are no presents that year. Elf 2 suggests that they keep the presents they have already made and save them for next year. The reindeer are keen to go on a safari holiday because they like the idea of tented accommodation and meeting their relations the impala and gazelles. To keep up to date, the elves and Father Christmas have installed new computers to process things more quickly and they have a new labelling machine. Father Christmas initially does not want to stop giving the children presents and then he comes round to the idea that a strike might be a good thing.

Word work Lounging – relaxing by lying in a stretched out fashion Casually – the opposite of formal, relaxed and at ease Polite – being courteous to people Processed – a procedure that is being followed to ensure that things are completed Extension work (A personal and imaginative response is required, therefore, the answers will vary.) Visit to Bath (page 87) Questions 1. The relationship between the writer and the person she is writing to is that of sister. 2. The writer is travelling to the city of Bath. 3. She is travelling with Miss Shaw and her brother Thomas. 4. The delay to the journey was caused by a wheel coming off the carriage. 5. They would have been an

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easy prey to highwaymen because they were unable to move and it would have been easy to rob them as a result. When they finally got going the mud slowed them down which would have made them an easy target as well. Aunt Gwendoline is rather an explorer who enjoys travelling. She is also quite an intrepid lady as she has stayed in a Bedouin tent and ridden camels. The writer of the letter plans to go to the Assembly Room ball and also to go shopping. She might even take the waters at bath even though we are not specifically told she will.

Word work 1. Tribulation- misery, trouble, affliction Wheelwright – a man who mends wheels Sanctuary – a safe haven, a place of refuge Imminent – happening immediately Assortment – a mixture of things for example, sweets 2. To be in ‘a fever of torment’ is to be in a state of great anxiety and worry. Extension work 1. We learn that the writer is a youthful individual because she is clearly excited about everything around her and she is travelling with a chaperone. We also learn that she is not particularly adventurous due to her response about animals and Bedouin tents. She is probably quite a nervy individual as the highwayman threat and the wheel situation frightened her considerably. She is used to comfort because the thought of the damp and bugs in her bed caused her to have a sleepless night. 2. I would imagine that the writer

leads quite a quiet sheltered life because going to the city of Bath is a very exciting experience for her. She tells us at the end of the passage that it is a ‘most exciting adventure’. 3. We know that the letter was written in the past by the language used which is more antiquated and less colloquial than the language used today. We also know it was written a long time ago because we no longer have carriages to transport us and ladies do not generally wear hats on a daily basis and gentlemen do not wear cravats. We also do not go to Bath to take the waters any more. We also do not have highwaymen on the roads. 4–6. (Require a personal and creative response and so answers will vary.) The Audition (page 90) Questions 1. Lucy has been asked to walk on to the stage, say her lines and then walk off. She actually ends up dancing as well. 2. Eight other girls as well as Lucy have been invited to the audition. 3. The part of Deboarah is a small role with only a few lines and little bit of dancing. 4. Lucy’s mother means that you cannot pretend to be different. You have to be proud of who you are and of what you are able to do, and not try to be something you’re not. 5. Props are important because they can give the audience the impression of a place or room. They are often necessary for actors to hold for example bottles and books. In fight scenes props are very important because you cannot fight without a sword or knife. 6. The quick change room allows an actor the chance to

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change into another costume very quickly and get back on to stage again as fast as possible. The lady provides a sugar glass bottle rather than a real glass one so that if the sugar glass breaks no one will get hurt.

Word work 1. Audition – to screen for an entertainment test Squinting – screwing up one’s eyes when faced with a bright light Blazed – intensity with which lights are shining Poise – the way in which a person holds themselves with dignity and grace Flimsy – lightweight material that could be easily knocked down Stage manager – the person who is responsible for the actors and scene changes etc in a theatre. 2. Intense – fervent, strong Halt – stop 3. If something is considered ‘daunting’ it means that it is quite a frightening experience that might make you want to give up or not continue. Extension work (Require a personal, creative response and therefore answers will vary.) Friday 11th March 2011 (page 93) Questions 1. Mizuki’s screams woke the whole family. Mizuki could see water everywhere and people running and screaming but they are not able to get away. The earth is also shaking and it won’t stop and the water continues to rise. 2. This particular dream worries her mother because she has had the same dream before the previous week and the

week before that. The family live in Sendai. Aguri reassures Mizuki’s mother by saying that it is nothing and that it is only a dream. Children often have bad dreams. 5. Aguri makes his living as a fisherman. 6. Mizuki wants to go to her grandmother. She does not want to stay by the sea because it frightens her. I think she wants to go to her grandmother because she lives up in the hills away from the water. 7. I think that Mizuki keeps looking behind her because she is expecting the water to come after her. 8. When the earthquake strikes they are in Grandmother’s kitchen having tea. 9. Grandmother Cho encourages them to climb higher because she probably knows that after an earthquake there is usually a tsunami. It is important to reach the highest ground away from the water. 10. I think that Kentaro asks Mizuki what happens in her dream because he knows that she can see into the future and wants to be reassured that things will work out positively for the family. 3. 4.

Word work Tsunami – a big wave, tidal wave Premonition – having an awareness that something might happen Snagging – catch on to something Scrutinized – look carefully into something Treasured – something which is very much loved and looked after Extension work 1. When the earthquake strikes Aguri is out fishing with the other men. I think that he has been lucky and has sailed far out to sea. When the tsunami strikes he is far out enough for

the waves to be only a ripple under him. OR I think that Aguri is unlucky and he gets caught in the killer wave and swept away. OR (answers might vary but accept suitable responses). 2. I think that Mizuki has had a premonition because she has had the dream many times before and she is clearly a sensitive child who is very aware of the things around her. 3. I think Grandmother Cho is a wise lady who sees Mizuki’s dream as a premonition because she remains quiet and says nothing except look at her granddaughter. She does not criticise or say anything trite or silly. 4–6. (Require a personal response and answers. Therefore, will vary.) The Young Egyptian Scribe (page 96) Questions 1. The story takes place in Egypt. 2. You can tell the story is set in ancient times because people in Egypt no longer work on the pyramids and they do not have hippo hunts in the River Nile. They also no longer write on papyrus but on paper. 3. Nakht does not enjoy going to school because there are no sports or games, just work. 4. Nakht hopes to become a scribe like his father. 5. Ostraca are bits of old stone or pottery which the young scribes practise writing on. 6. Nakht is looking forward to the hippo hunt because it means that they will get a chance to hunt the hippos which is exciting; he will also get a chance to eat some hippo meat which he has not done for a whole year. He is looking forward to the feasting and celebrations which will take

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place after the hunt. Papyrus is made from reeds. Boat travel might be considered slightly hazardous because there are boats of all different shapes and sizes all trying to dodge one another and accidents are likely to happen. Nobt might be considered strict because he will not tolerate laziness and disobedience. Boys who do not behave are beaten with a cane.

Word work Woebegone – sad, miserable Exempt – when you do not have to do something which others might have to do Taxes – payment made to the government from your salary for services Harvesting – cutting down of crops so that they can be made into things or eaten Hieroglyphics – Egyptian writing which is done is the form of pictures Delta – alluvial tract at a river mouth. Extension Work 1. To make papyrus you need to: cut the reeds into small lengths, the outer skin is peeled away, slice the white pith inside into wafer thin slices, take the strips and lay them crossways on a block, place a cloth over the pith and beat it with a mallet to get the moisture out. When dry, polish with a flat stone. 2. People would have travelled by boat or by donkey or horse. 3. The river is a busy place because a lot of people earn their living on the river. It is also an important trade route, people hunt for fish and birds in the reeds and people travel and transport livestock down the river to other places. There are people measuring the depth of the river to find out how well the annual flood

will provide water for the land. 4–5. (Require a personal and creative response.) 6. Nakht is told to be proud of learning to be a scribe because very few people in Egypt could read and write. If he can read and write he will be needed all over Egypt. His knowledge will make him rich and give him wisdom. There will also be the possibility of having other careers open up as a result of being able to read and write. 7. We know that there is trouble at the palace because we are told that Nakht’s mother has heard gossip in the marketplace that Pharaoh is dying, even though he is in the prime of his life; the rumour is that he has been poisoned. Rescue? (page 99) Questions 1. There are four children in the story, Niang, Goron, Minna and Chandra. 2. The children have been in an aeroplane accident. 3. The eldest of the children is Goron who is eighteen. 4. Niang takes charge because she understands more about survival than Goron. 5. They make their shelter from a large plastic sheet which they hang between two trees to make a rough tent. They use seats from the aircraft to sit on and use the clothing and blankets they have found from the plane and rucksacks. 6. Niang says they should not leave the aeroplane because the pilot sent a mayday signal before they went down, they have no idea where they are and will get lost in the forest if they start wandering around. 7. A mayday signal is a signal that a pilot will send to the nearest airport telling them that they are in trouble and require help. It should also say where they are and where

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they are likely to crash. Niang spoke ‘more confidently than she felt’ in order to reassure the others and try and keep their spirits up.

Word work 1. Dense – thickly covered so it is difficult to see through Unconscious – to lose consciousness, insensible Debris – fragments, rubbish Lurching – moving around in an ungainly fashion 2. If you sleep fitfully it means that you do not sleep very well but in fits and starts. Extension work 1. The children show their resourcefulness by raiding the rucksacks for food and clothing, they use the blankets for warmth, they use the aeroplane seats to sit on, they use a plastic sheet to rig up as a tent, they get a fire going with old magazines and packing cases, they raid the plane’s kitchen for more food and they rig up a pot and fill it with snow to heat over the fire. 2–4. (Require a personal response.) The Wind (page 102) Questions 1. Duhlee is afraid of the wind. She is afraid that it will gather her up and take her away. 2. Una is relating the story and she is a cousin to William and Maya. 3. Duhlee is hiding in the basement probably because it is under the main part of the house and away from the wind. There are no windows in the basement to rattle and frighten her further. 4. Duhlee was first frightened by the wind because her grandmother told a story about a little girl who defied the wind and carried her far

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away from her family. William works as a forest ranger. Thieves will damage the forest if William does not protect it. They will chop down the trees for firewood and buildings. William persuades Duhlee to face the wind by presenting her with the necklace she lost and which he says has been returned to her by the wind. The necklace is significant to Duhlee because it was a gift to her from her mother. The moral of the story about the girl and the wind might be not to underestimate the elements and their power, to respect nature and its force.

Word work 1. Nestling – to settle comfortably in a cosy, snug place Coax – try to encourage something or someone to do something Desolate – barren place Gulped – swallow eagerly Incessantly – non-stop Bric-a-brac – bits and pieces of old things that people no longer want 2. Words which describe the wind’s ferocity are: howling and shrieking, wild, whistling like a kettle, angry, tornado, blew angrily, whipped around, taunted her, buffeting, growled and twisted. 3. Words or phrases which tell us that the basement is a place for disused things are: old sheets and blankets, old bric-a-brac, graveyard of the past, memories clung like spiders’ webs, long forgotten. 4. Raised – lifted Chilling – cooling Beloved – favourite, much loved Protect – look after, defend, safeguard, guard Extension work 1. We learn that William is a kind and thoughtful individual who respects the forest and

loves his family. We know that Duhlee worships her gentle, kind elder brother and that he often brings her little gifts from the forest. To Duhlee he is a hero. We also know that he is sensitive towards Duhlee’s fear of the wind and tries to help her overcome her fear. 2-4. (Require a personal and imaginative response so they will vary.) Jasmin Fitzroy (page 105) Questions 1. Jasmin Fitzroy is a witch. 2. A passer-by would know that Jasmin rides a broomstick because, although she disguised it as a bicycle, sometimes her magic slipped and it would be revealed. 3. Jasmin refuses to live in town because she hates the busy traffic, the crowds of people

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and the confusing array of shops. When Jasmin arrives back Miggins is cross with her because she has taken so long and forgotten to get any bogweed. Miggins thinks Wingswift should be retired because she is overworked and exhausted. She needs a break. We know that Jasmin is fond of her broom because she picks it up and hugs it with tears in her eyes when they are talking about retirement. We know Jasmin is finally ready to get a new broom when she asks Miggins to bring her the New Broom Weekly.

Word work 1. Oblivious – to be unaware of what

is happening around you Exhaustive – trying everything possible to find an answer to something Restorative – taking or doing something that makes you feel better Assortment – a selection of items 2. A ‘familiar’ is a cat or other animal that is a witch’s companion. 3. Tactless means saying something without thinking that could hurt someone’s feelings. 4. The broom shudders with relief when released from the disguising spell because she is overworked and exhausted. Extension work (Require a personal and imaginative response so they will vary.)

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