PRACTICE 1

1. Who is asking the question?

_____________________________________________
2. How many questions are asked in this stanza? ______________________________
3. Describe the child’s face. ________________________________________________
4. Quote the line which shows that the child is being careful.
______________________________________________________________________
5. List the things that the child would normally do when he/she got home.
a) _____________________________________________
b) _____________________________________________
c) _____________________________________________
6. What does it mean when the persona/parent says that the child is a lamb?
______________________________________________________________________
7. What does the persona/parent ask the child to do?
______________________________________________________________________
8. Which line suggests that the persona/parent cannot believe what he/she sees?
______________________________________________________________________
9. Which line suggests that the persona/parent has just realised what is happening.
______________________________________________________________________
10. What does the child bring back from school?
______________________________________________________________________

News Break

Now why so loving, darling,

And why the sudden kiss?
You’d help me with some little jobs?
For goodness sake, what’s this?

Your face is clean for once, dear,

Your clothes without a crease
You saved your luncheon money?
Will wonder never cease?

No dropping of your school books,

No shrieking, childish treble,
Today you are a lamb, love,
Where yesterday a rebel.

But surely you’re some stranger,

No rage or hullabaloo,
Come closer, let me look, dear,
Can this be REALLY you?

Now were you struck by lightning

Or were you stunned at sport?
Ah… now I see the reason.
You’ve brought your school report!