Task 4. Fill in the gaps with suitable prepotitions.
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This brought me my feet a bound.
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Madame Rayburn stared me aghast.
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It was visible reluctance that Madame Rayburn
said a long pause.
4. But I got it of her at last, and I told her that my
mother had never written a line me her.
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You are going confession Thursday.
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If you do not obey your confessor, you will commit the sin open disobedience the Church.
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The silence which it was received bore witness
its seriousness.
8. She listened first amazement, then
her," she said last.
anger.
her
9. "So Lilly thinks I lied
10. "But me no buts," she interrupted, rising feet.
Task 5. Questions for deeper understanding.
1. Do you agree with the author that grown-up people often make a mistake of confusing issues with unimportant details?
Why? Why not?
2. "The convent discipline was as strict for the nuns as for the pupils, and it was not their custom to criticize their
118
superiors.'
What do you think of this custom, is it wise in your
opinion?
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Do you approve of the little girl's lie which she told to calm her friend down?
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What do you think could be the little girl's 'customary offenses' that she confessed of every week?
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What do you think about the confessor's decision? Is it wise in your opinion?
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Do you agree with Father O'Harra that the more you delay telling the truth, the more difficult it gets?
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Do you agree with the author that 'Children seldom give adults much credit for intelligence.'? Why? Why not?
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What do you think Madame Bouron meant when she said, "I must take the consequences of my error"?
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Do you agree with Madame Bouron's accusation, "You have been very bad. You have been false to your mother, to whom you owe respect and obedience; you have been false to me; and you have been false to God. But you have been true to your friend."?
10. The narrator tells about herself, "I was as innocent as a kitten." Do you think her behavior supports or denies this self-assessment?
TASK 6. Describe the Ufe of a convent school. Use as much information from the text as you can.
TASK 7. Speak about different understanding of lie by the characters of the story.
TASK 8. Act out possible dialogues between:
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Agnes and Lilly Milton;
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Agnes and Madame Rayburn, a nun;
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Agnes and Father O'Harra;
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Agnes and Madame Bouron.
TASK 9. Speak about each of the main characters of the story giving factual information and your personal point of view on their personalities and deeds.