A Surprise for Mr. Koffer

1. A Surprise for Mr. Koffer 1.Background Knowledge 2.Text Analysis 3.Exercises 4.Questions For Discussion

2. Background Knowledge Switzerland: Switzerland is a landlocked central European country with a population of 6,586,000 and Bern as its capital. Four languages are spoken in this country: German, French, Italian and Romansh. A highly industrialized country, Switzerland exports watches, jewelry, precision tools and instruments, textiles and chemicals. Tourism and international banking are its major industries.Switzerland maintained an armed neutrality in both the world wars. In 1986 voters rejected a proposal to join the United Nations. More

3. Background Knowledge Berlin: Berlin was the capital of Germany from 1871 to 1945. Since the Second World War it has been divided into East Berlin (formerly the Russian zone, now capital of East Germany) and West Berlin (a state of West Germany). West Berlin contains 12 districts of the original city and is divided into British, French and US zones. East Berlin contains 8 districts of the old city. Up until 1989 the Berlin Wall separated both halves of the city. Now the cities and two countries have been reunited into one Germany. More

4. Background Knowledge In England children finish school at the ages of 16to 18. At this age they either get a job and become a member of the work force, or go on to college. The legal age for adulthood is 18. This enables one to marry without parental permission, to buy alcoholic beverages, and to participate in many other privileges given only to “adults”. Return

5. 1. True/False Questions 2. Multiple-choice Questions Return

6. True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families. Answer

7. True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families. Answer

8. True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families. Answer

9. True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. (T) 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families. Answer

10. True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. (T) 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. (F) 5.This story happened between two families. Answer

11. True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. (T) 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. (F) 5.This story happened between two families. (T) More

12. True/False Questions 6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans. Answer

13. True/False Questions 6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. (T) 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans. Answer

14. True/False Questions 6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. (T) 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. (F) 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans. Answer

15. True/False Questions 6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. (T) 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. (F) 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans. (T) More

16. True/False Questions 9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box. Answer

17. True/False Questions 9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. (F) 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box. Answer

18. True/False Questions 9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. (F) 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. (F) 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box. Answer

19. True/False Questions 9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. (F) 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. (F) 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box. (T) Return

20. Multiple-choice Questions 1.  Which of the following is not true about Peter? A)He was a good student at school. B)He had a young teacher who taught him German. C)He had to go to school on that week-end to help with the preparation for the dance. D)He often came home late in the evening. Answer

21. Multiple-choice Questions 1.  Which of the following is not true about Peter? (D) A)He was a good student at school. B)He had a young teacher who taught him German. C)He had to go to school on that week-end to help with the preparation for the dance. D)He often came home late in the evening. Next

22. Multiple-choice Questions 2. Mr. Baker didn’t like to go to number 28 because . A)he didn’t like the old house with a high wall round the garden B)he didn’t know who was living there C)he felt it hard to start a conversation with strangers D)he thought it funny to sell dance tickets to a man with one arm Answer

23. Multiple-choice Questions 2. Mr. Baker didn’t like to go to number 28 because . (A) A)he didn’t like the old house with a high wall round the garden B)he didn’t know who was living there C)he felt it hard to start a conversation with strangers D)he thought it funny to sell dance tickets to a man with one arm Next

24. Multiple-choice Questions 3.The writer’s view about Mrs. Baker is that . A)she knew how to sell the tickets B)she liked to help selling the tickets C)she was too active in selling the tickets D) she used to make trouble for others Answer

25. Multiple-choice Questions 3.The writer’s view about Mrs. Baker is that . (C) A)she knew how to sell the tickets B)she liked to help selling the tickets C)she was too active in selling the tickets D) she used to make trouble for others Next

26. Multiple-choice Questions 4. Mrs. Baker sold two tickets to Mr. Box’s servant without knowing . A)her husband had already sold Mr. Box two tickets B)her son had to go to Mr. Box and explain all about it C)she would make the Boxes angry D)Mr. Box couldn’t go to the dance Answer

27. Multiple-choice Questions 4. Mrs. Baker sold two tickets to Mr. Box’s servant without knowing . (A) A)her husband had already sold Mr. Box two tickets B)her son had to go to Mr. Box and explain all about it C)she would make the Boxes angry D)Mr. Box couldn’t go to the dance Next

28. Multiple-choice Questions 5. At the dance, Mr. Koffer and Mr. Box were laughing, but Mrs. Box was crying because . A)she felt lonely without any information of her son B)she was sad to have sent away her son C)she was very angry that they bought four tickets D)she was overjoyed to find her lost son, Mr. Koffer Answer

29. Multiple-choice Questions 5. At the dance, Mr. Koffer and Mr. Box were laughing, but Mrs. Box was crying because . (D) A)she felt lonely without any information of her son B)she was sad to have sent away her son C)she was very angry that they bought four tickets D)she was overjoyed to find her lost son, Mr. Koffer Next

30. Multiple-choice Questions 6.   The main idea of the story is . A)that efforts to help others often lead to great rewards B)what one loses, one will find again C)wonderful things happen at dance parties D)if one changes one’s family name, one may lose a son Answer

31. Multiple-choice Questions 6.   The main idea of the story is . (A) A)that efforts to help others often lead to great rewards B)what one loses, one will find again C)wonderful things happen at dance parties D)if one changes one’s family name, one may lose a son Return

32. Questions for Discussion 1. What do you know about the Bakers? Reference Answer

33. Questions for Discussion 1. What do you know about the Bakers? The Bakers must be a harmonious and happy family. We can easily see the cooperative attitude of the family members to help one another. Mr. Baker is an honest man and does not like trouble. Mrs. Baker is a smart woman and has a glib tongue. Next

34. Questions for Discussion 2. What’s the author’s attitude towards war? Reference Answer

35. Questions for Discussion 2. What’s the author’s attitude towards war? The author’s opinion is implied rather than stated directly. We have to “read between the lines”. From the text we can see many families were divided in the war. Parents lost their children. (Mr. Box lost his son Hans.) Children became orphans. (Mr. Koffer was brought up in an orphanage.) Many people got wounded and became disabled. (Mr. Box lost one arm in the war.) Countless people were killed in the war. (All Box’s old friends in Germany died during the war.) More

36. Questions for Discussion 2. What’s the author’s attitude towards war? People were distressed because of the sufferings they underwent during the war. (Mr. and Mrs. Box looked old for their age. Both had white hair like old people. Mrs. Box’s beautiful face was sad and deeply lined. They lived a lonely life, cut off from the outside world.) Just as the proverb goes “when war begins, then hell opens”. In the writer’s eyes, war is cruel. It has a terrible impact upon countless families. It brings disaster to people, making them suffer both physically and mentally. Return

37. Text Analysis A Surprise for Mr. Koffer War is like a nightmare ([5naItmZE] 恶梦). During World War II thousands of families all over the world suffered a great deal and Mr. Koffer’s family was one of them. Rupert Baker put on his glasses and sat down to read the newspaper. It was nearly time for dinner, but his son was not yet back from school.

38. Text Analysis “Why is Peter so late this evening?” he asked his wife. “I don’t know, dear. He usually gets home at five o’clock, and now it’s nearly half past seven. Perhaps he has a new girl friend.” Mr. Baker did not like some of Peter’s girl friends, but he was too wise to say so. The boy worked hard at school and gave no trouble at home. At seventeen he was old enough to take care of himself. Just then the door opened, and Peter came in.

39. Text Analysis “I’m sorry to be so late, Dad. I was selling tickets for the school dance tomorrow night.” “School dance? That’s something new. Why are you having a dance in the summer?” “There’s a school in Switzerland for children who have no fathers or mothers. They come from many different countries, and the school is their home. Mr. Koffer, our new German teacher, told us about it. Look at these.” He pulled some pictures out of his school bag and began to show them to his father.

40. Text Analysis “Come along, you two,” Mrs. Baker called from the next room. “Come and have your dinner before it gets cold.” Peter took the pictures with him to the dinner table and went on talking. “Mr. Koffer was at that school himself when he was a boy. He was very happy there and he wants us all to do something to help. We are selling dance tickets for one pound each, and all the money will go to the school in Switzerland.”

41. Text Analysis “You want me to buy two tickets, I suppose?” said Mr. Baker, laughing. “Yes. And I want you to sell some tickets too, Dad.” Mr. Baker stopped laughing. “I can’t do that. I’m much too busy. Why can’t you do it all yourself?”

42. Text Analysis “Each boy has to sell the tickets to people who live in his own road. I called at every house, but at number 17 and number 28 nobody answered the door. I have to go to school tomorrow, but you don’t work on Saturdays, so you can try those two houses in the morning.” “Number 17? That’s my dressmaker’s house,” said his mother. “I’ll go and see her for you.”

43. Text Analysis “That leaves me with number 28.” Mr. Baker did not seem very pleased. “It’s that old house, with a high wall round the garden, isn’t it? There’s something strange about that place. A man called Box lives there with his wife. I’ve never seen them, because they never go out. Their servant buys everything for them in the shops, and he isn’t English. I spoke to him once, but he didn’t understand me.”

44. Text Analysis His son looked at him and laughed. “You’re not afraid, are you, Dad?” “Of course I’m not.” Now Mr. Baker had to go. “I’ll be glad to meet Mr. Box. Give me the tickets.” Next morning, when his wife was shopping, Mr. Baker went down the road to number 28. He tried the front door first, but nobody came to open it. Then he walked round the house to the back door.

45. Text Analysis Before he reached it, he noticed a man and a woman sitting in the garden. They both had white hair, like very old people. The man had only one arm. “What do you want, please?” he called. At first Mr. Baker was too surprised to answer, for the man’s voice seemed quite young, and it was not an English voice.

46. Text Analysis “I’m selling tickets for a dance.” Mr. Baker wanted to run away. How could he sell dance-tickets to a man with only one arm? But it was too late to turn back now. He had to go on. “It’s to help a school in Switzerland for children with no mothers and fathers.” He walked over to their chairs, and the man looked at the tickets. Then he looked at his wife. She had a beautiful face, but it was sad and deeply lined.

47. Text Analysis “Yes,” he said at last, speaking very slowly, “I will buy two tickets. We do not dance, but we will help the children.” Mr. Baker thanked him and went home. Soon his wife came back from the shops. “You needn’t go to number 28,” she said. “My dressmaker is away in London; but I met the servant from number 28 in the flower shop, and he bought my two tickets for Mr. and Mrs. Box.”

48. Text Analysis Mr. Baker was not surprised. When his wife wanted to do something, like selling tickets for a dance, nobody could stop her. Peter often said that his mother “could talk the back leg off a donkey.” Few people were strong-minded enough to say “no” to her. “You don’t look very pleased, dear. Have I done the wrong thing?”

49. Text Analysis “Yes. Mr. Box now has four tickets.” He told her about his visit to number 28. “I’m not going back there. Mr. Box will be angry. Peter must go and see them about it when he comes home. I’ve had enough.” Mr. Baker did not like trouble. He put on his oldest clothes and went out to work in the garden. Peter was busy at school, helping Mr. Koffer to get everything ready for the dance. He did not return home until late in the afternoon.

50. Text Analysis “I can’t go now, Dad,” he said when his father told him about Mr. Box’s four tickets. “If he comes to the dance, I’ll see him there. If he doesn’t, I’ll call at his house tomorrow.” The Bakers could not see any sign of Mr. Box when they got to the dance. There were several hundred people there, and it was almost impossible to move round the room. Peter soon found a girl friend and began to dance with her, but his father and mother felt too old for this kind of dancing. They sat down at a small table and watched.