III. Fill in the gaps

1. She woke Meg ___ a “Merry Christmas,” and bade her to see what was under her ___.

2. I shall keep my book on the table here and read a little every morning ___I wake, for I know it will do me ___ and help me ___ the day.

3. Amy came in ___, and looked rather ___ when she saw her sisters all waiting for her.

4. Jo pronounced her ___, while Beth ran to the window, and picked her finest ___ to ornament the ___ bottle.

5. I shall take the ___ and the ___.

6. The slippers ___at once, a new handkerchief ___into her pocket, well ___ with Amy's cologne.

7. On Christmas night, a dozen girls ___ onto the bed which was the dress circle, and sat before the ___ and ___ chintz curtains in a most flattering state of ___.

8. Hugo, the ___, stalked in with a clanking ___ at his side, a ___ hat, black beard, mysterious ___, and ___ boots.

9. The tower tottered, ___ forward, ___ with a crash, and ___ the unhappy lovers in the ruins.

10. “Mother did it.” And Meg smiled her ___, in spite of her gray ___ and white ___.

Part I, chapter III

(“Jo! Jo! Where are you?” cried Meg at the foot of the garret stairs.”… Hannah hated rain as much as a cat does so she made no trouble, and they rolled away in the luxurious close carriage, feeling very festive and elegant.)

Look up the meaning of the following words before listening.

garret n husky adj comforter n refuge n poplin (pop) n everlasting adj mortified adj stain v forlornly adv

briskly adv engage v recess n peep v stammer v bounce v startle v sober adj odd adj

thrash v frock n scorch v beckon v sprain v wrench n limp v scold v

Vocabulary notes. Study before listening

to fly about - to move up and down or from side to side with a lot of quick, light movements

cut capers - be merry, be frolicsome

be at one’s ease – feel comfortable

be at one’s wits' end - not to know what to do or say; quite at a loss; at the point of having exhausted one's last idea or mental resource.

I. Answer the following questions

1. What kind of invitation did the girls get from Mrs. Gardiner?

2. What clothing problems did the girls face?

3. Did Meg and Jo manage to solve the “gloves” question?

4. How did Jo happen to meet the “Laurence boy” at the party?

5. What did they talk about?

6. Jo liked Laurie, didn’t she?

7. Why didn’t Jo want to dance at first?

8. How did it happen that the girls went home in Laurie’s carriage?

II. Say whether the statements are true or false

1. Jo was crying when Meg found her because she felt bad.

2. The girls were going to wear their poplins to the party.

3. Jo’s gloves were spoiled with lemonade.

4. Jo was eager to talk to other girls at the party because she was fond of girlish gossip.

5. Laurie made the boys stop calling him Dora by thrashing them.

6. Laurie and Jo had a grand waltz.

7. Meg sprained her ankle while dancing at the party.