III. Fill in the gaps

1. As Meg appeared, Jo ___ the tears ___ her cheeks and waited to hear the news.

2. Yours is as ___ as new, but I forgot the ___ and the ___in mine.

3. I don't care much for ___ dancing.

4. “I'll tell you how we can ___, said Jo, each ___ one good one and ___ a bad one.”

5. Jo, who didn't care much for ___ or ___ gossip, stood ___, with her back carefully ___ the wall.

6. As the ___ fell behind her, she found herself ___with the `Laurence boy'.

7. That put Jo at her ___ and she ___ too.

8. She liked the ___better than ___ and took several ___ looks at him.

9. “___ black hair, ___ skin, big ___ eyes, ___ nose, ___ teeth, small hands and feet, taller than I am, very polite, for a boy, and altogether ___,” thought Jo.

10. Jo gratefully accepted and ___ up to bring down the rest of the ___.

Part I, chapter iy

(“Oh, dear, how hard it does seem to take up our packs and go on”… “…put their sisters in the places of

discarded dolls with the maternal instinct of little women.”)

Look up the meaning of the following words before listening.

turnover n wintry adj dainty adj lavish v trifle n decline v

irascible adj bust n wilderness n bliss n affliction n weep v

trial n hod n pinching n specimen n quench v discarded adj

Vocabulary notes. Study before listening

be out (come out) - to be formally introduced to polite society at about age eighteen, usually at a party; begin to go to big parties.

be lame (limp) –walk with difficulty or in an uneven way because one of their legs or feet is hurt.

I. Answer the following questions

1. What were Meg’s duties at the Kings’?

2. Where did Jo work?

3. What was the best attraction for Jo at Aunt March’s house?

4. What was Beth busy with at home?

5. What was the greatest trial of Amy’s life?

6. Why was Amy nicknamed “Little Raphael”?

II. Say whether the statements are true or false

1. The girls were rather cheerful in spite of wintry weather, hard work, and the unsatisfied desires of pleasure-loving youth.

2. At the Kings' Meg daily saw all she wanted.

3. Aunt March didn’t have any problems with her health.

4. Aunt March had offered to adopt two of the girls when the troubles came.

5. Jo got on very badly with her irascible relative.

6. Aunt March found her greatest grief in the fact that she couldn't read, run, and ride as much as she liked.

7. When Amy was a baby, Jo had accidentally dropped her into the swimming pool.

8. Amy suffered deeply at having to wear her cousin's clothes.

9. Jo was Amy's confidante and monitor, and Meg was gentle Beth's.

III. Fill in the gaps

1. Jo gave her sister an encouraging pat ___ the shoulder as they parted ___ the day.

2. She was `fond of ___', and her chief trouble was ___.

3. The Marches lost ___ chance of being remembered in the ___ old lady's will.

4. To every one's surprise, Jo got on ___ well with her ___ relative.

5. And a quick ___, sharp ___, and restless ___ were always getting her into scrapes.

6. ___ was a child still and loved her pets ___ever.

7. Amy suffered deeply ___ having to wear a red ___ of a blue bonnet, unbecoming ___, and fussy ___ that did not fit.

Talking Points

1. What do you think of the decision to give the breakfast to the poor family? Have you ever done anything of the kind?

2. Did you like the play the girls staged? Do you have any experience at staging home performances?

3. Why do you think Mr. Laurence presented such a gift to the Marches? Do you believe that for the good you do you always get good in return?

4. When you go to some party does it take you long to choose clothes to wear? Have you ever had to wear your sisters’ or brothers’ clothes?

5. Do you like your name? What’s the short form of your name? Try to remember what nicknames you had when at school. Do you have any now?

6. If you were one of the girls would you go and work for other people in order to help your family?

7. Do you believe that even in the worst work you can find something good?

8. What do you think of Amy’s problems with her nose? Is there anything you would like to change in your appearance?

9. You are to write a letter pretending you are one of the characters and write a letter to father to tell

him about your Christmas day. You will need to include at least three details from the novel.