Read through the following text twice before trying to answer the questions.

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew.  "Christmas among the rest.  But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

The clerk in the tank involuntarily applauded: becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety, he poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark for ever.

"Let me hear another sound from you," said Scrooge, "and you'll keep your Christmas by losing your situation.  You're quite a powerful speaker, sir," he added, turning to his nephew.  "I wonder you don't go into Parliament."

"Don't be angry, uncle.  Come!  Dine with us tomorrow."

Scrooge said that he would see him -- yes, indeed he did.  He went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him in that extremity first.

"But why?"  cried Scrooge's nephew.  "Why?"

"Why did you get married?"  said Scrooge.

"Because I fell in love."

"Because you fell in love!" growled Scrooge, as if that were the only one thing in the world more ridiculous than a merry Christmas.  "Good afternoon!"

"Nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before that happened.  Why give it as a reason for not coming now?"

Now you have read it twice, have a go at answering the following questions independently. Use the format that has been set up for you on Purple Mash. 

1.  C - What other words for 'said' are used in the text?
2.  R - What does the clerk do after Scrooge's nephew finishes talking?
3.  I - Does Scrooge think that is nephew is a good speaker? What in the text tells us?
4.  R – What does Scrooge think is more ridiculous than Christmas?
5.  R - Why is Scrooge making excuses? What does he not want to do?

Home learners please could you submit your answers on by using the 2do template on Purple Mash.