Step Four B2.

1
READING & TRAINING
KEY TO THE EXERCISES

Charles Dickens Page 21 – exercise 2 d. Because the bell began to move.

1. was sitting e. ‘It’ was the sound of chains coming
2. was coming up the stairs.

A Christmas Carol 3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
was burning
was copying
went
tried
was watching
f. He knew the Ghost was Marley’s
because it had the same face,
clothes and boots.
g. He made the chain when he was
alive.
8. opened h. He cannot stop because when he
9. came was alive he was locked in a room
making money and his spirit
Page 22 – exercise 3 stayed inside.
KEY TO THE EXERCISES AND EXIT TEST i. He wanted to tell Scrooge about
a.3 b.5 c.1 d.2 e.4
the coming of the Ghosts.
PART ONE Page 12 – exercise 2 j. He could hear a great noise of
Page 22 – exercise 4 crying outside.
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT 1. Bob Cratchit, an office clerk
1. there were people k. It wanted to help a poor woman
2. Scrooge, an old businessman
CHARLES DICKENS 3. Fred, Scrooge’s nephew
2. the office door and her child out in the cold.
3. the company’s name l. He stopped saying humbug
Page 6 – exercise 1 4. Jacob Marley, a dead businessman
4. hard voice because he knew that the Ghosts
a. T 5. didn’t care / liked it were real.
b. T CHAPTER ONE 6. three o’clock
c. F – They went to prison, he SCROOGE 7. windows and the doors Page 33 – exercise 2
became separated from them. 8. a clerk
d. T a. 6 b. 4 c. 1 d. 3 e. 9 f. 7 g. 5
Page 20 – exercise 1 9. smaller than Scrooge’s
e. F – Sketches by Boz was a short h. 10 i. 2 j. 8
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT 10.warm his hands
story. His first novel was The a. F– Scrooge went to Marley’s
Pickwick Papers. Page 34 – exercise 3
funeral Page 23 – exercise 5
f. T b. T a. went up
f, c, b, e.
g. T c. F– Scrooge was a ‘mean man’ who b. came into
h. F – He was a great success in never spent any money. c. Sit down
America. Page 23 – exercise 6 d. looked at
d. F – He was a solitary man whom
i. F – They are still popular today. no-one spoke to. Open answer. e. stayed away from
j. T e. F – Bob Cratchit and Fred were f. took off
Page 24 – exercise 1 g. fell out of
poor.
Page 10 – exercise 1 1. D 2. C 3. C 4. A 5. D 6. B 7. C h. went to
f. T
8. A 9. D 10. B 11. B 12. C
1. C 2. C 3. B 4. B 5. C g. T
h. T Page 35 – exercise 4
i. F – He didn’t give them any
CHAPTER TWO 1. How 2. what 3. would 4. during
Before you read
Page 11 – exercise 1 money. MARLEY’S GHOST 5. was 6. than 7. had 8. becoming
a.3 b.5 c.6 d.2 e.1 f.4 j. F – He died on Christmas Eve Page 32 – exercise 1 9. went 10. keep 11. when
(December the 24th) a. He was putting the key in Marley’s 12. better
k. T door.
l. T b. He was looking for Marley.
c. In the fire.

2
 KEY TO THE EXERCISES KEY TO THE EXERCISES

Page 36 – exercise 5 from the beds. Page 55 – exercise 4 Page 73 – exercise 2

3. Popjoys, next to the Theatre Royal 1. if it had been a. Fred’s wife said that nobody liked
in Bath. Just before Christmas 2. both a child Scrooge.
1975. A lady in old-fashioned 3. isn’t anyone b. The Spirit told Scrooge to touch
handkerchief
clothes. 4. a long time before his clothes.
5. which had c. The Spirit said that he didn’t have
body
Page 42 – exercise 1 6. will not fall if much time.
glasses 1. two o’clock 7. so sad that he could d. Bob asked his wife to drink to
2. struck twelve 8. wasn’t as old as Scrooge.
key 3. a dream 9. you to show e. Fred’s wife asked if it was a horse.
chains
4. opened the curtains 10.so he got into bed f. Mrs Cratchit asked her husband
5. an old man what he was saying.
foot
6. was wearing white The Christmas Story g. Scrooge asked the Spirit if Tiny
7. the Ghost of Page 59 – exercise 1 Tim would see another Christmas.
8. Your past a. F – There was a mid-winter festival h. The Ghost told Scrooge to look at
9. to help him after the shortest day of the year. him.
a. body 10. walk with me b. F – Christmas combines a pagan
b. long and Christian festival. Page 73 – exercise 3
c. cash-boxes, keys, locks, account CHAPTER THREE c. T a. ‘Help me prepare the table,’ said
books
THE FIRST SPIRIT d. F – Father Christmas is an Mrs Cratchit.
d. cold, dead American idea. b. ‘Its Christmas Day,’ said Bob
e. handkerchief, chin e. T Cratchit.
f. were on his nose Page 52 – exercise 1
f. F – They didn’t appear at the same c. ‘Is your life short?’ Scrooge asked
a. 11 b. 17 c. 7 d. 1 e. 13 f. 18
time. the Spirit.
Page 37 – exercise 6 g. 2 h. 12 i. 15 j. 5 k. 10 l. 3
g. F – Boxing Day was not a holiday. d. ‘I will drink to Scrooge because it
m. 8 n. 4 o. 9 p. 16 q. 14 r. 6
A7 B4 C8 D3 E6 F5 h. T is Christmas,’ said Mrs Cratchit.
G2 H1 i. F – A Christmas Box is any type of e. ‘Do you live in the city?’ said
Page 53 – exercise 2 present. Fred’s wife to the animal.
Page 37 – exercise 7 1. Yes, I have a sister. j. F – Boxing Day originated when f. ‘Look down on the ground,’ said
a. B b. A c. A d. A e. B f. B 2. Fanny. priests gave the contents of money the Spirit to Scrooge.
3. No she was younger than me. boxes to the poor. g. ‘Put the plates on the table,’ said
4. Yes, she was. Mrs Cratchit to Belinda.
Page 38 – exercise 8
5. No, I wasn’t. Before you read h. ‘There are too many people in the
g, c, i, a, e, b, d, h, f, j
6. I thought that the school was world,’ said Scrooge.
Page 61 – exercise 1
horrible.
Page 40 – exercise 1 7. In an office in the city. My boss 1. B 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. A 6. A 7. B
Page 74 – exercise 4
SOME CHRISTMAS GHOSTS was called Mr Fezziwig.
CHAPTER FOUR 1. Bob Cratchit carried Tiny Tim on
1. In the sixteenth century, every 8. He was a fat, happy man with a red
his shoulder because he was a
Christmas Day, at Calgarth Hall in face. THE SECOND SPIRIT cripple.
the Lake District. Myles Phillipson, 9. Yes, her name was Belle. Page 72 – exercise 1 2. Martha put hot plates on the table.
Kraster Cook & his wife Dorothy. 10. She got married.
Summary 3. All the children shouted ‘Hurray’
2. Sandringham in Norfolk, every because they didn’t often eat
A. 3 B. 8 C. 2 D. 6 E. 1 F. 9 G. 7
Christmas Eve, in the servants’ Page 54 – exercise 3 goose.
H. 5 I. Extra Title J. 4
rooms. Ghost throws Christmas 1. F 2. B 3. G 4. I 5. C 6. D 7. H 4. Scrooge, because the Spirit said
cards into the air and pulls sheets that Tiny Tim will die.

3 4
 KEY TO THE EXERCISES
5. Bob Cratchit because he wanted
his wife to drink a toast to Scrooge.
6. Fred’s wife because they were
playing a game of twenty questions.
7. The Ghost, because he was to die
at midnight.
8. Scrooge, because he saw to the two
children who represnted
humanity, dying.
Page 75 – exercise 5
a. Have you ever met any of my
brothers?
b. Bob Cratchit has never earned
much money.
c. Tiny Tim has never walked
without a crutch.
d. Has Fred ever eaten turkey?
e. Have you ever had a white
Christmas?
f. Has Scrooge ever laughed in his
life?
g. Has Fred’s wife ever liked
Scrooge?
h. Have the Cratchit children ever
played twenty questions?
Page 76 – exercise 1
a. F b. F c. T d. T e. F f. T g. T
h. T i. F j. F
CHAPTER FIVE
THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS
Page 86 – exercise 1
1. D 2. A 3. B 4. A 5. D 6. B 7. C
8. C 9. D 10. B
Page 88 – exercise 2
a. 4 Who / Scrooge.
b. 5 When / Seven years ago.
c. 1 Why / Because Tiny Tim was
dead.
d. 6 Where / In a poor part of the city.
e. 3 What / His grave.
5 6
KEY TO THE EXERCISES
f. 2 How / Very frightened. http://www.timeout.com/london/ g. Scrooge told him he planned to
offers comprehensive information give him a bigger salary.
Page 88 – exercise 3 about where to stay and to eat and h. he had changed.
1. will drink and where to visit. Enter Covent
2. change Garden in the search. This site will Page 103 – exercise 3
3. will be also be of use in compiling the 1. F 2. A 3. E 4. B 5. C 6. D 7. B
4. won’t itinerary at the end of the exercise. 8. E 9. F 10. A 11. C 12. B 13. B
5. won’t say http://www.londontouristboard.com/ 14. A
6. will give another easily searchable site, again of
7. will use for compiling an itinerary. Page 104 – exercise 4
8. will be For those searching for images and
information about life in the area in a. 6 b. 8 c. 5 d. 3 e. 2 f. 7 g. 1 h. 4
9. won’t be
10. will Dickens’s time, try:
http://www.dickens-and-london.com Page 105 – exercise 5
11. won’t say
12. will and select Covent Garden from the a. wasn’t he?
13. won’t forget bottom of the page for a Dickens- b. will you?
14. won’t related history of the area and a guide c. haven’t they?
15. will live to walks. d. didn’t they?
e. isn’t it?
Page 95 – exercise 1 f. did he?
Page 89 – exercise 4
1. drunk 2. dangerous 3. criminals 1. had 2. out 3. live 4. eyes 5. put
Page 105 – exercise 6
4. dirtiest 5. haired 6. possessions 6. yet 7. at 8. What 9. light 10. an
7. cleaner 8. selfish 9. generosity 11. all 12. around 13. door 14. saw First spirit, young, old, long white
10. profitable 15. and 16. rang 17. opened 18. out hair, wearing white clothes with
19. air 20. the summer flowers on them. Carrying a
piece of green holly.
London in Dickens’s time
Second spirit, young and happy, a
Page 93 – exercise 1 CHAPTER SIX giant, smiling with kind gentle eyes.
1. b 2. a 3. c 4. b 5. a 6. c 7. b ‘A MERRY CHRISTMAS Third spirit, looked frightening,
8. b wearing long, black clothes and a
MR SCROOGE!’
black hood.
Internet Project
Page 102 – exercise 1
Page 94 Page 106 – exercise 7
a. 5 b. 2 c. 9 d. 1 e. 7 f. 4 g. 3
Ask both groups of students to use a h. 10 i. 6 j. 8 1. Eh
reliable search engine such as 2. It’s Christmas Day.
3. Of course!
www.google.co.uk and enter Seven Page 102 – exercise 2
Dials, Monmouth Street, Shaftesbury 4. You mean the one as big as me?
a. was bright and sunny. 5. No. It’s still there.
Avenue, Charing Cross Road or b. Scrooge shouted at him and asked
Covent Garden. 6. A Merry Christmas to you.
him to buy a turkey for him. 7. Yes. That’s my name and perhaps
http://www.thisislondon.com/homes/n c. answered ‘A Merry Christmas’ to
ews/articles/1909807?source=Evening you don’t like me (…) listen.
all the people he met. 8. Of course. Can you do me that
%20Standard a recent article published d. forgive him for the previous day favour?
in the London Evening Standard that and to do him a favour. 9 Don’t say anything. Come and see
discusses property, shops and history e. was in the dining room. me tomorrow. I’ll give it to you
in the Seven Dials area. f. went into his room and started then. All right?
working fast.
 EXIT TEST KEY TO THE EXIT TEST

1 Context b. if Scrooge is popular with Context b. Scrooge is very unpopular as he is

a. What is a carol?
b. Who wrote A Christmas Carol?
c. When and where was he born?
d.What do you remember of his
life?
e. What sort of novel is A
Christmas Carol? A comic novel,
SCORE
a sentimental novel, a social
novel?
4 Memory
f. What other works of his do you
remember?
SCORE / 5
people and why / why not.
c. which character/s may be
considered Scrooge’s
counterpart/s.
d. why Dickens chose Christmas
as the narration time of the story.
e. if you consider the story
old fashioned, modern, boring,
interesting and why.
/ 5
Who said:
a. ‘A merry Christmas, uncle!’
1.
a. A traditional Christmas song.
b. Charles Dickens.
c. In Portsea, in 1812.
d. He moved to London at the age of
ten, he went to work in a factory
when he was 12 and later his
parents were imprisoned for
outstanding debts. Charles became
a newspaper reporter and then
later a writer.
e. A social novel.
f. Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby,
David Copperfield, Hard Times,
Great Expectations, Sketches by
Boz, The Pickwick Papers.
mean and unkind.
c. Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s clerk who
is poor, yet kind.
d. Christmas is the time of year
traditionally associated with acts
of kindness, of the importance of
family and is rich in images of the
cold, of snow and of food.
e. The story can be considered as
forward thinking and is as
appropriate today as when it was
written. The same basic human
values remain the same.
Memory
4.
a. Fred, Scrooge’s nephew.

Black Cat Publishing, an imprint of Cideb Editrice, Genoa, Canterbury

2 Comprehension
a. What do you remember about
the main character, his job, his
personality?
b. At what point of the story does
the narration of events start ?
c. What time of year is it?
d. What is Scrooge’s attitude to
the festivities and why does he
behave so?
e. Who first appears to him and
what does he pre-announce?
SCORE / 5
3 Interpretation
Explain:
a. who the three visions are and
what they look like. Try to
interpret why they are described
SCORE
b. ‘Bah! Humbug!’
c. ‘I am here tonight to tell you
something. There is still hope for
you, Ebenezer.’
d. ‘Dear, dear brother... I’ve come
to bring you home!’
e. ‘It’s Christmas Eve, boys! We
must celebrate! Let’s stop work
and close the office.’
f. ‘You love something more than
me, Ebenezer.’
g. ‘Drink to that hard old miser!
What are you saying, Robert
Cratchit?’
h. ‘When he was alive he
frightened people and they hated
him. So we get the profits now
that he’s dead.’
i. ‘A merry Christmas, Bob! This
will be your happiest Christmas!
Yes, I’m going to give you a lot
more money and I’m going to
help your poor family.’
/ 5
b. Scrooge.
Comprehension
c. Jacob Marley’s ghost.
2.
d. Fanny, Scrooge’s sister.
a. Scrooge was a miser, a solitary
e. Fezziwig, Scrooge’s first employer.
man and a businessman.
b. On Christmas Eve. f. Belle, Scrooge’s fiancée.
c. Christmas time. g. Mrs Cratchit.
d. He finds Christmas a ‘humbug’. h. Old Joe.
i. Scrooge.
e. The ghost of his ex-partner,
Marley, who tells him he will be
visited by three ghosts.
Interpretation
3.
a. The ghosts of Christmas Past
(small like a child but also like an
old man, wearing white clothes
with summer flowers on them),
Christmas Present (a giant holding
a torch, smiling with gentle eyes),
Christmas Yet to Come (wearing
long, black clothes and a black
hood.)

© 2003
so.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © 2003 Black Cat Publishing

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