Speaking, Reading & Writing Exercises for 'The Night the Ghost Got In'

Speaking - The Night the Ghost Got In | by James Grover Thurber

Speaking

F. Quiz: Who am I ?

Let us play this game in class

Who Am I? is a guessing game where players use ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to guess the identity of a famous person.

Questions are based upon the traits and characteristics of a person everyone will be able to identify.

Divide the class into groups. One group should decide the personality while the other group should ask ‘yes’ or ‘no’ type questions. To win the game, a team needs to find out the person within 10 clues.

Let us play this game in class:

Who Am I? is a guessing game where players use ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to guess the identity of a famous person. Questions are based upon the traits and characteristics of a person everyone will be able to identify.

Divide the class into groups. One group should decide the personality while the other group should ask ‘yes’ or ‘no’ type questions. To win the game, a team needs to find out the person within 10 clues.

Sample questions to ask. Answers must be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ only.

Are you a male (female)?
Are you a famous personality?
Are you a singer (dancer, actor)?
Are you a historical figure?
Are you young (old)?
Are you alive now?
Does your name start with ‘___’ ?
Is he/she ____ ?

G. Use this passage to play the game. You can collect information on other famous personalities and play too.

Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889, in London England. His birth name was Charles Spencer Chaplin, though he had many nicknames growing up such as Charlie, Charlot, and The Little Tramp. His father, Charles Chaplin, and his mother, Hannah Chaplin, were inducted into the music hall of fame, leading the way to his exposure even as a young boy. His first onstage moment was when he was 5 years old; he sang a song that was intended to be sung by his own mother; she had become ill at the time of the performance, so little Charlie Chaplin stood instead and performed for his mother.

Charlie Chaplin came to the United States in 1910, at the age of 21. He was brought to New York, which was known to be a great place to start out for anyone trying to become a professional actor. Two years later, in 1913, Chaplin signed his very first contract at Keystone and it was no time before he headed to Hollywood. His first movie premiered in 1914, “Making a Living,” and went on to make over 35 movies total in that year alone. Charlie Chaplin grew to become one of the most popular and successful actors of all time. The moment that really kicked off his long career was in 1921 when he starred in, and produced, his first full length film called “The Kid.” From then on, most people all over the world knew Charlie Chaplin and loved his movies. He had a great career and life, dying on December 25, 1977, in Vevey, Switzerland. He had apparently died of natural causes in his sleep from old age.

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Reading

Read the following incident carefully to answer the questions that follow

The tie that does not bind

“Oh, so you’re going abroad? Can you bring me back…..?” I’ve been asked to bring back a vaccine for a course. Once I searched the suburbs of Paris for two days for a special brand of ceramic paint. Having spent a lot of money for Cartier lighter refills, I had them confiscated at the airport just before boarding because the gas might be dangerous in the air.

Now, two months before a trip, I stop talking to people so they won’t suspect I’m about to travel. But someone always catches me.” I’ve heard you’re going to New York, and I want you to get something for me. It’s just a little thing you can find anywhere. I don’t know exactly how much it costs, but it shouldn’t be much. We’ll settle up when you get back”.

What Gilson asked me to buy was, in fact a little thing: a tie. But not just any tie. He wanted a tie with a small embroidered G. Any colour would do, as long as it had his initial. Look , this is a special flight, I explained . We are only staying Saturday through Tuesday. On the day we arrived I didn’t have time to think about the tie, but strolling around on Sunday I did see ties bearing various letters in more than one shop window. They were cheap, just a dollar, but all the shops were closed.

On Monday, lunch lasted the whole afternoon. Then it was Tuesday morning, time to leave. It was only when I saw our airport bus waiting outside the hotel that I remembered the tie.

I told the group to go on. I would get a taxi to the airport. And so I went in search of a nearby shop where I had seen ties.

But I couldn’t find it. I walked further down the street -one, two, three blocks - all in vain. Back at the hotel, a bit anxious now, I took my suitcase, got a taxi and asked the driver to rush to the street where I had seen them.

The driver stopped at each shop we passed so I could look from the window. The stores had all sorts of ties, but not the kind I was looking for.

When I finally thought I had located the right shop, I decided to go in and check. The driver refused to wait. Parking was prohibited, he said. I promised to double the fare, jumped out and ran into the shop. Was I going to miss the plane just for a damned tie?

The salesman was unbearably slow. When I realized that the smallest change I had was a ten dollar note , I grabbed ten ties of different colours so I wouldn’t have to wait for change. I rushed out with the ties in a paper bag.

On the street I looked around. The taxi had vanished, taking my suitcase. What is more, I was going to miss the plane.

I ran to the corner, and hope flared up again: the taxi was waiting in the next street. Quick to the airport! As I settled down inside the taxi. I sighed with relief. Gilson was going to have enough initialized ties to last him a lifetime.

“At least I hope you found your tie”, said one who knew the story.

“I did”, I answered triumphantly.

After making myself comfortable, I reached for the paper bag to show the ties.

I had left it behind; in the taxi.

Fernando Sabino.

H. Read the incident again and answer the following questions.

1. What was the writer always asked to do whenever he planned to go abroad?

The writer was always asked to buy some gifts from abroad whenever he planned.

2. What did Gilson want the writer to bring for him?

Gilson wanted to bring a tie with a letter ‘G’ embroidered on it.

3. When did the writer remember the fact that he had to buy something for Mr. Gilson?

When the writer saw the airport bus on Tuesday morning, he remembered to buy a tie for Mr. Gilson.

4. Why were the other passengers in the flight gazing at the writer?

The flight was delayed due to the writer’s late arrival. And so the other passengers in the flight were gazing at the writer.

5. What is the humour element in the above incident?

The humour element was that the writer had left the tie in the taxi. All his efforts became vain.

I. Suggesting titles:

Title summarises the story. Each paragraph is a part of the story. Look at the following expressions and find out the paragraphs that best suit these expressions.

1. Oh, No! But it happens!

“Oh, so you’re going abroad? Can you bring me back...?” I’ve been asked to bring back a vaccine for a course. Once I searched the suburbs of Paris for two days for a special brand of ceramic paint. Having spent a lot of money for Cartier lighter refills, I had them confiscated at the airport just before boarding because the gas might be dangerous in the air.

2. Don’t let out your travelling dates

3. Anyway, people will be people

What Gilson asked me to buy was, in fact a little thing: a tie. But not just any tie. He wanted a tie with a small embroidered G. Any colour would do, as long as it had his initial. Look, this is a special flight, I explained. We are only staying Saturday through Tuesday. On the day we arrived I didn’t have time to think about the tie, but strolling around on Sunday I did see one shop window. They were cheap, just a dollar, but all the shops were closed.

4. Search begins

I told the group to go on. I would get a taxi to the airport. And so I went in search of a nearby shop where I had seen ties. But I couldn’t find it. I walked further down the street-one, two, three blocks - all in vain. Back at the hotel, a bit anxious now, I took my suitcase, got a taxi and asked the driver to rush to the street where I had seen them. The driver stopped at each shop we passed so I could look from the window. The stores had all sorts of ties, bill not the kind 1 was looking for.

5. Things are not that easy

When 1 finally thought I had located the right shop, i decided to go in and check. The driver refused to wait. Parking was prohibited, he said. I promised to double the fare, jumped out and ran into the shop. Was I going to miss the plane just for a damned tie?

6. Hurry unites worry

When I reached the airport, I paid the taxi driver the double fare and grabbed my suitcase. Panting, I boarded the plane under the reproachful gaze of the other passengers, all primly seated with their seat belts fastened. Ready to take off. Departure had been delayed because of me. “At least 1 hope you found your tie”, said one who knew the story. “I did”, I answered triumphantly. After making myself comfortable, I reached for the paper bag to show the ties. I had left it behind; in the taxi.

J. Look at the following situations the writer was in. He could have avoided the situation and saved himself. Glance through the write up again and comment on what the writer should have done in the following situations.

· Gilson asked the writer to bring a tie.

Answer: The writer could have avoided Gilson by explaining that the stay was a short period. And so he cannot go for shopping.

· On the day of arrival, the writer had no time to think about the tie.

Answer: He should have bought the tie when he have a lot of time on the day of arrival.

· The writer remembered about the tie when the bus was leaving for the airport.

Answer: He should have gone directly to the airport. It is wrong time for shopping.

· The writer walked down in search of the shop.

Answer: The writer should have taken the address of the shop from a local person instead of wasting his time.

· The writer rushed out with the tie in a paper bag.

Answer: The writer should have kept the tie in his coat pocket.

K. State whether the following statements are true or false.

The narrator searched for three days to buy ceramic paint. - False
The author was going to New York. - True
Gilson asked the narrator to buy a tie. - True
The taxi driver took away the narrator’s suitcase. - False
Correct Statement: It was not a parking area. So he was waiting in a corner.
Departure was delayed because of the author. -True
The author left the ties in the taxi. - True

Writing

How to Write a Good Speech

Have an inspiring OPENING and ENDING.
Appropriate(suitable)TONE of VOICE. (e.g.) sincere for a serious issue, humour for comedy etc
Adapt speech for PURPOSE and AUDIENCE. (e.g.) teenagers, mixed audience, teachers, children etc
Organise IDEAS logically and do not confuse the audience.
Use EMOTIVE language to CONVINCE your audience that what you are saying should be listened to. (e.g.) Even if they put us in chains, torture us and leave us to bleed we will not move. Blood will be our victory!
Use RHETORICAL QUESTIONS – asking a question for persuasive effect with out expecting are play (because the answer is obvious) Eg: Was he not a good man? (knowing that the audience agree anyway)
Make sure you are writing in the CORRECT PERSON (e.g.) I believe that … I knew him well …
Use interesting facts and figures (e.g.) 200000 people… with diagrams or charts to help your audience visualize it.

M. Write a speech for your school Literary Association celebration with the given lead.

1) Opening :- Good morning dear members,

2) Purpose :- I am very glad to welcome you to the first annual meeting of our English literary association.

3) Audience :- You would be pleased to know that several award winning authors would visit our place to deliver lectures on the importance of English language learning, its usage, and application to the modern world on this auspicious occasion.

4) Language - Some Good Describing Words (Adverbs and Adjectives), Emotive Words, Imagery etc. :- I stand before you all to address the aim of this association that is why we should leam English in this technological advanced world. English is the window to the world. It is spoken in nook and comer of this world. It is spoken by more than 750 million people in the world. So it plays an important role in our life. With the learning of English, we can communicate with people around the world. So we must leam it with full spirit.

5) Ending :- Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Let’s us all unite together to achieve our association’s aim.

Speaking, Reading, and Writing Exercises for 'The Night the Ghost Got In'