Page 1 - Two Stories About Flying- Black Aeroplane

THE PROPOSAL
Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract
(A) LOMOV: Never mind about my people! The Lomovs have all been honourable people, and not one
has ever been tried for embezzlement, like your grandfather!
CHUBUKOV: You Lomovs have had lunacy in your family, all of you! NATALYA: All, all, all!
CHUBUKOV: Your grandfather was a drunkard, and your younger aunt, Nastasya Mihailovna, ran away
with an architect, and so on...
LOMOV: And your mother was hump-backed. [Clutches at his heart] Something pulling in my side... My
head Help! Water!
CHUBUKOV: Your father was a guzzling gambler!

i Choose the option that correctly identifies the tone of the characters in the given extract.
1) antagonism
2) humour
3) contempt
4) irony

a) (1) and (2)
b) (2) and (4)
c) (1) and (3)
d) (3) and (4)

ii The playwright’s intention in the given extract is to
a) throw light upon the weaknesses of the rich in any society.
b) emphasize that family history is important in a marriage proposal.
c) satirise the superficiality of the upper class in Russian society.
d) send a message that ego is not healthy in any relationship.

iii If according to Chubukov and Natalya, Lomovs are not “honourable people”, why do they still
consider Lomov’s proposal?
a) Natalya can take care of her father if she marries close by.
b) They were exaggerating in the argument and didn’t mean it.
c) They understand that honour is superficial and overrated.
d) Lomov’s status in society supersedes everything.

iv Imagine you found the playwright’s notes for each scene in the play and noticed that some of the
words were missing.
Choose the option that fills the missing words most appropriately.
A conversation that starts pleasantly quickly turns into a (i) _____ argument. With (ii) _______ of Oxen
Meadows at the heart of the matter, Lomov and Natalya quarrel and are later joined by Chubukov. Thus,
begins a (iii) _______ of insults, accusations and name-calling. All (iv) _______ disappears. Eventually, Lomov
leaves clutching at his heart, his foot numb.
a) (i) petty ; (ii) history ; (iii) series; (iv) politeness
b) (i) vicious ; (ii) ownership ; (iii) circus ; (iv) civility
c) (i) curious ; (ii) land ; (iii) outpouring ; (iv) laughter
d) (i) ugly ; (ii) neighbourhood ; (iii) barrage; (iv) goodness

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