TEST B

A Christmas Present

This is the story of two young couple who are in love. They are very poor but they love each
other very much. It is Christmas eve and they want to buy each other a present but they have
no money.

Read the extract below and do the activities from 39 to 42.

() So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown
waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did it
up again nervously and quickly. She fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.

She stopped and saw a sign: "Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds."

"Will you buy my hair?" asked Della.

"I buy hair," said Madame. "Take your hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."

Down rippled the brown cascade.

"Twenty dollars," said Madame.

"Give it to me quick," said Della.

She went to the shops and saw the platinum chain . As soon as she saw it she knew that it
must be Jim's. Jim had this beautiful golden watch that was once his fathers and grandfathers.
It was like him. She bought it and rushed home.

When she got home, Della looked at her reflection in the mirror long, carefully, and critically.

"If Jim doesn't like it?," she said to herself.

At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready
to cook the chops.

Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table
near the door that he always entered. Then she heard his step on the stair and now she
whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty."

The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. He needed
a new coat, but he was lucky to have a job. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a
setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in
them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval,
nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her
fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.

Della wriggled off the table and went for him.

"Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold because I
couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It'll grow out again--you
won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!' Jim,
and let's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you."

"You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim.

"Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, anyhow?

Jim looked about the room curiously.

"You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an air almost of idiocy.

Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table.

On the package there were the Combs--the set of combs that Della had so much wanted.
Beautiful combs, and now, they were hers, but her hair was gone.

She screamed then smiled and said: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"

"Dell," said Jim, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep them a while. They're too nice
to use just now. Lets have a nice dinner!

39. Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? Which is the correct sequence?
a ___Della and Jim were so much in love.
b Jim always arrived home on time.
c Jim was late one day because he was working extra hours.
d Dellas hair was so long that it could touch her knees.
e Della bought Jim a watch.
f Jim didnt like Dellas new hair cut.

1. T T T T F F

2. T T F T- F F

3. T T F F F F

40. Choose the correct option.

1 Della had beautiful _____ hair.

a [ ] blonde b [ ]red c [ ] black d [ ] brown
2 Jims gold watch once belonged to his _____.
a [ ] father b [ ] wife c [ ] mother d [ ] brother
3 Della lived in a poor room in New York with her _____.
 a [ ] parents b [ ] mother c [ ] sister d [ ] husband
4 James Dillingham Young was lucky because he had a _____.
a [ ] job b [ ] wife c [ ] shop d [ ] garter
5 Della gave a scream of happiness when she saw the _____.
a [ ] combs b [ ] mirror c [ ] watch d [ ] new chain

41. There is some irony in this short story. Why is it ironic?

a. Because what they bought has no utility.

b. Because they didnt like each others present.
c. Because they dispose of what they have of more value to please each other.

42. We can say that Della:

a. was in doubt whether Jim would like her new hair style or not.

b. was worried about her hair not growing again.

c. was afraid that Jim wouldnt like the present.