PRÁTICOS INGLÉS

WORKSHEET 7
(with answer key)
Worksheet 7

1. Read the following passage, then answer the question which follow it, basing
you answers entirely on the information given in the passage.

Until comparatively recent times the selection of happiness which a writer thought
worthy record were mainly those which had some direct bearing on the evolution of
his own society or of that which he or she chose to study. This meant that political
history was generally taken to be the same as history. Only in the last century or so
has there been a great expansion in the scope of historical writing, to include 5
constitutional, economic, local and social history. This has meant that somewhat
arbitrary divisions have grown up, dictated by the increasingly exact standards
demanded in historical research, so that the centuries-old ambition of writing
“total” history is no longer pursued.

In theoretical terms history includes the whole field of past human actions, so that 10
what happened to a remote nomadic tribe in the depths of central Asia a thousand
years ago is just as much a part of the subject as an analysis of the rise and fall of
the German Third Reich. Selection of the subject and the imposition of a
chronological framework, however, mean that the majority of historians are willing
to reject large areas of human activity, mostly because such a study is not really 15
profitable. In the words of a noted professor, “darkness is not a subject for history.”
This reflects what Voltaire said in the 18th century. “If all you have to tell us is that
one barbarian succeeded another on the banks of the Oxus, what benefit have you
conferred on the public?” This preoccupation with the history of civilized and settled
societies has tended to make historians Eurocentric, which is understandable since 20
the type of society evolved in Europe over the past five centuries has profoundly
affected the rest of the world. Such an attitude has meant that the study of societies
has profoundly affected the rest of the world. Such an attitude has meant that the
study of societies which remained unsettled or who have left no written record is
generally classified as pre-history, and so ignored, or that it has become the province 25
of the anthropologist.

The civilisations of Egypt and Mesopotamia can be studied more or less in isolation,
while those of Greece and Rome, though styled as “ancient history”, have had a
much more direct bearing on Europe and so come in for more general study. Further
divisions have taken on the civilizations of the East and the Americas. Thus divided 30
by subject and rough chronological limits, the study of history breaks down into more
or less manageable proportions. The question is whether this delineation of history
limits the possibility of making illuminating connections between one period or
phase and another, thus hindering the study of history from shedding light on our
own times.

1 What has most influenced most historical writers’ choice of subject?

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2 In what sense can “political history be taken to be the same as history”? (line 3-
4)

3 Explain the phrase “somewhat arbitrary divisions”. (lines 6-7)

4 Why is the ambition of writing “total” history no longer pursued? (line 9)

5 Explain the word “profitable” in this context. (line 16)

6 Explain in your own words what is meant by the phrase “darkness is not a subject
for history” (line 16)

7 Why have historians tended to become “Eurocentric”? (line 20)

8 Replace “evolved” with an alternative word or phrase without changing the

meaning of the sentence. (line 21)

9 Explain the meaning of the word “province”. (line 25)

10 Why can certain civilisations be studied “more or less in isolation”? (line 27)

11 Explain the phrase “taken on” in this context. (line 30)

12 To what does “this delineation” (line 32 ) refer to?

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 13 Classify the category of the words given in the text according to their word
formation (prefixes, suffixes, compounds)

Comparatively

Constitutional

Imposition

Framework

Profitable

Darkness

Understandable

Unsettled

14 Define the following expressions using your own words:

Economic
Arbitrary
Theoretical
Chronological
Pre-history
isolation

15 Give examples of synonyms taken from the text for the following words:
Behaviour
Area
Given
Obsession
Clarigy

16 Give examples of antonyms for the following words:

Unrealiable
Close

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 Disadvantage
Undeveloped
Facilitating

17 Summarise in 50-100 words why the pursuit of a “total history” has been
dropped.

2. TRANSCRIPTION

One of the most obvious characteristics of the new family is that there are not always two
parents. Due mostly to the rise in divorces since World War II, single-parent families are
becoming more and more frequent and accepted in British society. Usually, it is the
mother who takes responsibility for raising the child, and she has to balance the pressures
of earning a living and raising her children at the same time.

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3. For sentences a-j, replace the words in italics with a single adjective formed from
or of the verbs or nouns given. What adjectives are formed from the four remaining
words?

adventure alternate disaster dispose

exhaust experiment flaw hope
identify mass notice philosophy
predict speech understand

1 My boss’s response to my plea for changes to my job description was exactly what I
was expecting.
2 If the weather is unfavourable, do you have any other suggestions to replace our
original plans?
3 Both sides in the conflict are expressing their optimism that the ceasefire will hold.

4 Jeremy seems to have calmly accepted the news about the break-in.
5 That play I went to see last night was trying something new in its use of dialect.
6 I was incapable of any reply when Ella told me she had quit her job.
7 It’s really easy to see how much fitter Liam has become since he started swimming
regularly.
8 Your last piece of writing was without any mistakes whatsoever.
9 Many of today’s products are used only once and then thrown away, which is
having an impact on the environment.
10 The updating of the university’s computer system has had extremely bad and far-
reaching consequences.

4. SYNONYMS. Choose from the sets of synonyms the word which is most appropriate
in each case.

1. I was educated/ coached/ trained/ taught intensively for two weeks before the
tennis tournament.
2. Before the parachute jump I was carefully tutored/ instructed/ taught/ educated in
safety procedures.
3. She entrusted/ consigned/ confided/ resigned her daughter to the care of a
babysitter for the evening.
4. The woman slapped/ smacked/ clouted/ punched the burglars across the head with
a heavy vase and knocked him out.
5. Fighting among rebel soldiers enhanced/ aggravated/ heightened/ intensified last
night and a curfew has now been imposed.

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 6. While other companies collapsed in the economic recession, Cartwright Ltd.
benefited/ took advantage/ profited/ gained and share prices rose.
7. Rebecca hit/ slapped/ struck/ punched her fiancé across the face during an
argument and walked out of the restaurant.
8. The judge’s ruling initlated/ instigated/ launched/ commenced a wave of protest
campaigns across the country.
9. Although I was able to hobble, having a broken ankle it harred/ hindered/
hampered/ blocked my movements considerably.
10. Our journey was obstructed/ impeded/ barred/ blocked by the icy roads which
forced us to drive very slowly.

5. COLLOCATION. Collocate the expressions with words from the given list.

curb betray cuddle stagger accuse

charge sprinkle disperse Blab slip

1. to ______________under the weight of

6. to ________________ sb.
sth.
2. to ______________ one’s behaviour. 7. to ________________ with sugar.
3. to ______________ the baby. 8. to ________________ sth with a crime.
4. to ______________ on the ice. 9. to ________________ sb’s trust.
5. to ______________ the secret. 10. to _________________ a crowd.

6. IDIOMS. Fill in the blanks with one of the idioms.

a. Show one’s true
1 Trying to make them understand is a colours
___________________. They are so conservative. b. Lost cause
c. Chair a meeting
2 Laura passed her exam _____________________ She d. Off color
came top of the class. e. Have the cheek
3 He _______________________ when he started f. Get a bit hot under the
making rude jokes about women. collar
g. Keep one’s chin up
4 I don’t know how he ______________________ to h. With flying colours
moan about my spelling when his is even worse. i. Get a problem off one’s
5 You look ________________________ . Would you chest
like me to call a doctor for you? j. Different as chalk and
cheese
6 John managed to ______________________ despite k. Call sb names
his illness. l. A close shave
m. Play one’s cards right

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 7 If you ________________________ and speak nicely to your father, he might take
you to fair this afternoon.
8 Bert and Tom are as different as ________________________ It’s hard to believe
that they are brothers!
9 Those boys are very rude to me. They are always ________________________.
10 The two cars just avoided having a head-on collision. It was a very
_____________________
11 Instead of just sitting there feeling bad, why not talk about it and
_____________________?
12 She _________________________ when a colleague started criticizing her work.
13 Paul was asked to ________________________ as the director was away on
business.

7. Fill in the correct preposition

1 The children were late and had to make a dash _________ the school bus.
2 We’ll have to economise _________ heating or we won’t be able to pay the bill.
3 I dream _________ becoming a millionaire and buying a big yacht.
4 The student was eligible __________ a full grant from the authority.
5 The employee showed total disregard ___________ the company rules and was
dismissed.
6 The man was distracted ___________ a commotion and didn’t notice the pick-pocket
taking his wallet.
7 John was so engrossed ___________ the film that he burnt the dinner.
8 We were totally entranced __________ the prima ballerina’s dancing.
9 The doctor told me I was deficient __________ iron and would have to take
supplements.
10 My brother eloped __________ his girlfriend because her parents had forbidden them
to marry.
A. to cancel
11 The woman exulted __________ her son’s success as a B. to conscript
writer. C. to ask to return
D. to run away
E. to brighten up (of the
8. PHRASAL VERBS. Match the phrasal verbs in bold italics weather)
with one of the definitions given F. to visit briefly
G. to get rid of unwanted
1 I’ll call at the travel agency to collect our tickets.
things
2 As soon as John reached Vienna he was called back to H. to remove
Paris. I. to cause one to go on
strike
3 His condition calls for immediate medical attention.
J. to find innocent
4 The meeting was called off due to the chairman’s K. to consult
illness. L. to require
5 You’d better call in a solicitor before writing hour will.

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 6 My cousin was called up at the age of 19 and died in Vietnam a year later.
7 The union has called out its members to try to get better pay.
8 The thieves cleared off when they heard the guard approaching.
9 They cleared out the garage to make room for their new car.
10 It’s been raining all morning but it seems to be clearing up now.
11 If you cleared away all these books, we’d have room to eat.
12 She was cleared of the charges of negligence but some people still believe she’s
guilty.

9. For each the sentence below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in
meaning to the original sentence but using the word given. The word must not be
altered in any way.

1 Do you remember seeing that play? RECOLLECTION

2 I couldn’t help noticing that she had lost weight. ESCAPE

3 Fancy even suggesting that she lend him money! QUESTION

4 He made us re-do the exercise. FORCED

5 There’s no point in saying that now. UNNECESSARY

6 I can hardly read her writing. DIFFICULTY

7 It took us half the day to drive into town. SPENT

8 It isn’t worth to convince him. WASTE

9 She’s looking forward to changing jobs. FILLS

10 Will you be coming to the meeting? INTEND

11 John proposed that we should go together in his car. SUGGESTED

12 Do you have to pay a membership fee at that gym? NECESSARY

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TRANSLATION. “Frankestein.” Mary Shelly

CARTA 2 A la señora SAVILLE, Inglaterra

Arkángel, 28 de marzo de 17…

¡Qué despacio pasa aquí el tiempo, rodeado como estoy de nieve y hielo! Sin embargo, he
dado ya un segundo paso hacia la realización de mi empresa. He fletado un barco y estoy
ocupado en reunir la tripulación; los que ya he contratado parecen hombres en quienes
puedo confiar e indudablemente están dotados de invencible valor.

Tengo, empero, un deseo aún por satisfacer y este vacío me acucia ahora de manera
terrible. No tengo amigo alguno, Margaret; cuando arda con el entusiasmo del éxito, no
habrá nadie que comparta mi alegría; si soy víctima del desaliento, nadie se esforzará por
disipar mi desánimo. Podré plasmar mis pensamientos en el papel, cierto, pero es un pobre
medio para comunicar los sentimientos. Añoro la compañía de un hombre que pudiera
compenetrarse conmigo, cuya mirada respondiera a la mía. Me puedes tachar de romántico,
querida hermana, pero echo muy en falta a un amigo. No tengo a nadie cerca que sea
tranquilo a la vez que valeroso, culto y capaz, cuyos gustos se parezcan a los míos, que
pueda aprobar o corregir mis proyectos. ¡Qué bien enmendaría un amigo así los fallos de tu
pobre hermano! Soy demasiado impulsivo en la ejecución y demasiado impaciente con los
obstáculos. Pero aún me resulta más nocivo el hecho de haberme autoeducado. Durante los
primeros catorce años de mi vida corrí por los campos como un salvaje, y no leí nada salvo
los libros de viajes de nuestro tío Thomas. A esa edad empecé a familiarizarme con los
renombrados poetas de nuestra patria. Pero no vi la necesidad de aprender otras lenguas
que la mía hasta que no estaba en mi poder el sacar los máximos beneficios de esta
convicción. Tengo ahora veintiocho años, y en realidad soy más inculto que muchos
colegiales de quince. Es cierto que he reflexionado más, y que mis sueños son más
ambiciosos y magníficos, pero carecen de equilibrio (como dicen los pintores). Me hace
mucha falta un amigo que tuviera el suficiente sentido común como para no despreciarme
por romántico y que me estimara lo bastante como para intentar ordenar mi mente.

Bien, son estas lamentaciones vanas; sé que no encontraré amigo alguno en el vasto océano,
ni siquiera aquí, en Arkángel, entre mercaderes y hombres de mar. […]

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Answer Key
1. Read the following passage, then answer the question which follow it, basing you
answers entirely on the information given in the passage.

1. What has most influenced most historical writers’ choice of subject?

Its relation to the development of the writer’s own society or chosen society of study.
2. In what sense can “political history be taken to be the same as history”? (line 4)
Those events which are thought to have had the most influence on society have
been political and so it is those events which have been recorded as history.
3. Explain the phrase “somewhat arbitrary divisions”. (lines 6-7)
Separations which are not based on real or necessary differences.
4. Why is the ambition of writing “total” history no longer pursued? (line 8)
Because divisions have developed as a result of the demands of historical research.
5. Explain the word “profitable” in this context. (line 15)
It means of relevance and value.
6. Explain in your own words what is meant by the phrase “darkness is not a subject for
history” (line 16)
Events which add nothing to the knowledge and advancement of human society are
not worth studying.
7. Why have historians tended to become “Eurocentric”? (line 20)
Because European societies have affected much of world history.
8. Replace “evolved” with an alternative word or phrase without changing the meaning
of the sentence. (line 21)
Which has gradually developed.
9. Explain the meaning of the word “province”. (line 25)
Area or field of study.
10. Why can certain civilisations be studied “more or less in isolation”? (line 25)
Because these civilisations have had little influence on European society.
11. Explain the phrase “taken on” in this context. (line 28)
It means that the civilisations have had little influence on European society.
12. To what does “this delineation” (line 30) refer to?
To the division of history by subject and time.
13. Classify the category of the words given in the text according to their word formation
(prefixes, suffixes, compounds)

Adverb resulting from the suffix –ly added to the adjective

Comparatively “comparative”
Noun resulting from the suffix –ness added to the adjective
Happiness “happy”
Adjective resulting from the suffix –al added to the noun
Constitutional “constitution”
Noun that result by adding the suffix –ition to the verb “impose”
Imposition
Compound noun formed from the noun “frame” by adding the
Framework noun “work”
Adjective formed by adding the suffix –able to the noun “profit”
Profitable

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 Noun formed by adding the suffix –ness to the adjective “dark”
Darkness
Adjective resulting by adding the suffix –able to the verb
Understandable “understand”
Negative adjective resulting by adding the prefix –un to the
unsettled adjective “settled” meaning the opposite.

14. Define the following expressions using your own words:

The way in which society gradually change and develop over

Evolution
time
Arbitrary Base on chance rather being planned or based on reason
Theoretical Based on ideas o theories
Chronological Following the order in which the events of history happened
Pre-history Period before recorded history
isolation Separated

15. Give examples of synonyms taken from the text for the following words:

Area scope

Given conferred

Obsession preoccupation

Clarigy shedding light

16. Give examples of antonyms for the following words:

Unrealiable worthy

Close remote

Disadvantage benefit

Undeveloped evolved

Facilitating hindering

17. Summarise in 50-100 words why the pursuit of a “total history” has been dropped.
The scope of historical writing has broadened and as a result divisions have
developed to meet the demands of historical research and make the subject
manageable. Areas of history which are not relevant to the writer’s chosen field or
society are usually ignored as are events which are thought to have no benefit to
human society. Furthermore, historians have become Eurocentric because European

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 society has affected much of world history. However, those societies which have had
little effect on Europe are studied in isolation

2. TRANSCRIPTION

/wʌn ɒv ðə məʊst ˈɒbvɪəs ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪks ɒv ðə njuː ˈfæmɪli ɪz ðət ðeər ɑː nɒt ˈɔːlweɪz tuː

ˈpeərənts // djuː ˈməʊstli tə ðə raɪz ɪn dɪˈvɔːsɪz sɪns wɜːld wɔːr ðə ˈsekənd, ˈsɪŋgl
ˈpeərənt ˈfæmɪliz ɑː bɪˈkʌmɪŋ mɔːr ənd mɔː ˈfriːkwənt ənd əkˈseptɪd ɪn ˈbrɪtɪʃ
səˈsaɪəti// ˈjuːʒəli, ɪt ɪz ðə ˈmʌðə huː teɪks rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪləti fɔː ˈreɪzɪŋ ðə ʧaɪld, ænd ʃiː hæz t
ə

ˈbæləns ðə ˈpreʃəz ɒv ˈɜːnɪŋ ə ˈlɪvɪŋ ənd ˈreɪzɪŋ hɜː ˈʧɪldrən ət ðə seɪm taɪm. /

Notes:
1) In the word “one” / wʌn /, the vowel is short, the symbol used is therefore /ʌ/ as opposed to “car” /k ɑː /
2) In the word “takes” /teɪks/, /t/ is aspirated. It is because it is found in a stressed syllable before a vowel. The
same rule applies not only to /t/, but also to /p/ and /k/.

3) Note that ng at the end of words is never pronounced /ŋk/, but only /ŋ/! Although it does not affect intelligibility,
this is not done by RP speakers.
4) The word “and” is one of the weak forms, i.e. words like prepositions, auxiliary verbs etc. have two possible
pronunciations strong: /ænd/ and weak /ənd/, /ən/, /n/. Under normal circumstances the weak pronunciation is
used. Weak pronunciation can have a couple of variants.

3. For sentences a-j, replace the words in italics with a single adjective formed from or
of the verbs or nouns given. What adjectives are formed from the four remaining
words?

1. My boss’s response to my plea for changes to my job description was exactly what I
was expecting. PREDICTABLE
2. If the weather is unfavourable, do you have any other suggestions to replace our
original plans? ALTERNATIVE
3. Both sides in the conflict are expressing their optimism that the ceasefire will hold.
HOPEFUL
4. Jeremy seems to have calmly accepted the news about the break-in.
PHILOSHOPHICAL
5. That play I went to see last night was trying something new in its use of dialect.
EXPERIMENTAL
6. I was incapable of any reply when Ella told me she had quit her job. SPEECHLESS
7. It’s really easy to see how much fitter Liam has become since he started swimming
regularly. NOTICIABLE
8. Your last piece of writing was without any mistakes whatsoever. FLAWLESS
9. Many of today’s products are used only once and then thrown away, which is
having an impact on the environment. DISPOSABLE
10. The updating of the university’s computer system has had extremely bad and far-
reaching consequences. DISASTROUS

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4. SYNONYMS. Choose from the sets of synonyms the word which is most
appropriate in each case.

11. I was educated/ coached/ trained/ taught intensively for two weeks before the
tennis tournament.
12. Before the parachute jump I was carefully tutored/ instructed/ taught/ educated in
safety procedures.
13. She entrusted/ consigned/ confided/ resigned her daughter to the care of a
babysitter for the evening.
14. The woman slapped/ smacked/ clouted/ punched the burglars across the head
with a heavy vase and knocked him out.
15. Fighting among rebel soldiers enhanced/ aggravated/ heightened/ intensified last
night and a curfew has now been imposed.
16. While other companies collapsed in the economic recession, Cartwright Ltd.
benefited/ took advantage/ profited/ gained and share prices rose.
17. Rebecca hit/ slapped/ struck/ punched her fiancé across the face during an
argument and walked out of the restaurant.
18. The judge’s ruling initlated/ instigated/ launched/ commenced a wave of protest
campaigns across the country.
19. Although I was able to hobble, having a broken ankle it harred/ hindered/
hampered/ blocked my movements considerably.
20. Our journey was obstructed/ impeded/ barred/ blocked by the icy roads which
forced us to drive very slowly.

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5. COLLOCATION. Collocate the expressions with words from the given list.

1. to stagger under the weight of sth. 6. to accuse sb.

2. to curb one’s behaviour. 7. to sprinkle with sugar.
3. to cuddle the baby. 8. to charge sth with a crime.
4. to slip on the ice. 9. to betray sb’s trust.
5. to blab the secret. 10. to disperse a crowd.

6. IDIOMS. Fill in the blanks with one of the idioms.

1. Trying to make them understand is a lost cost. They are so conservative.

2. Laura passed her exam with flying colours She came top of the class.
3. He showed his true colours when he started making rude jokes about women.
4. I don’t know how he had the cheek to moan about my spelling when his is even
worse.
5. You look off colour . Would you like me to call a doctor for you?
6. John managed to keep his chin up. despite his illness.
7. If you play your cards right and speak nicely to your father, he might take you to fair
this afternoon.
8. Bert and Tom are as different as chalk and cheese It’s hard to believe that they are
brothers!
9. Those boys are very rude to me. They are always calling me names.
10. The two cars just avoided having a head-on collision. It was a very close shave.
11. Instead of just sitting there feeling bad, why not talk about it and get it off your
chest?
12. She got a bit hot under the collar when a colleague started criticizing her work.
13. Paul was asked to chair the meeting as the director was away on business.

7. Fill in the correct preposition

1. The children were late and had to make a dash for the school bus.
2. We’ll have to economise on heating or we won’t be able to pay the bill.
3. I dream of becoming a millionaire and buying a big yacht.
4. The student was eligible for a full grant from the authority.
5. The employee showed total disregard for the company rules and was dismissed.
6. The man was distracted by a commotion and didn’t notice the pick-pocket taking his
wallet.
7. John was so engrossed in the film that he burnt the dinner.
8. We were totally entranced by the prima ballerina’s dancing.
9. The doctor told me I was deficient in iron and would have to take supplements.
10. My brother eloped with his girlfriend because her parents had forbidden them to
marry.
11. The woman exulted at/in her son’s success as a writer.

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8. PHRASAL VERBS. Match the phrasal verbs in bold italics with one of the definitions
given

1. I’ll call at the travel agency to collect our tickets.F

2. As soon as John reached Vienna he was called back to Paris. C
3. His condition calls for immediate medical attention. L
4. The meeting was called off due to the chairman’s illness. A
5. You’d better call in a solicitor before writing hour will. K
6. My cousin was called up at the age of 19 and died in Vietnam a year later. B
7. The union has called out its members to try to get better pay. I
8. The thieves cleared off when they heard the guard approaching. D
9. They cleared out the garage to make room for their new car. G
10. It’s been raining all morning but it seems to be clearing up now. E
11. If you cleared away all these books, we’d have room to eat. H
12. She was cleared of the charges of negligence but some people still believe she’s
guilty. J

9. For each the sentence below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in
meaning to the original sentence but using the word given. The word must not be
altered in any way.

1. Do you remember seeing that play? RECOLLECTION

Do you have any recollection of seeing that play?
2. I couldn’t help noticing that she had lost weight. ESCAPE
It didn’t escape my notice/me that she had lost weight.
3. Fancy even suggesting that she lend him money! QUESTION
It’s out of the question that she should lend him money.
4. He made us re-do the exercise. FORCED.
We were forced to re-do the exercise / He forced us to re-do the exercise.
5. There’s no point in saying that now. UNNECESSARY
It is unnecessary to say that now.
6. I can hardly read her writing. DIFFICULTY
I have (great) difficulty (in) reading her writing.
7. It took us half the day to drive into town. SPENT
We spent half the day driving into town.
8. It isn’t worth to convince him. WASTE
It’s a waste of time trying to convince him.
9. She’s looking forward to changing jobs. FILLS
The prospect of changing jobs fills her with pleasure.
10. Will you be coming to the meeting? INTEND
John suggested (our) going together in his car.
11. John proposed that we should go together in his car. SUGGESTED
John suggested (our) going together in his car.
12. Do you have to pay a membership fee at that gym? NECESSARY
Is it necessary to pay a membership fee at that gym.

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TRANSLATION (key)

To Mrs. Saville, England

Archangel, 28th March, 17—

How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost and snow! Yet a second step
is taken towards my enterprise. I have hired a vessel and am occupied in collecting my sailors;
those whom I have already engaged appear to be men on whom I can depend and are
certainly possessed of dauntless courage.

But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy, and the absence of the object
of which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with
the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by
disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection. I shall commit my thoughts
to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling. I desire the
com- pany of a man who could sympathize with me, whose eyes would reply to mine. You
may deem me romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend. I have no one
near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind,
whose tastes are like my own, to approve or amend my plans. How would such a friend repair
the faults of your poor brother! I am too ardent in execution and too impatient of difficulties.
But it is a still greater evil to me that I am self-educated: for the first fourteen years of my life I
ran wild on a common and read nothing but our Uncle Thomas’ books of voyages. At that age
I became acquainted with the celebrated poets of our own country; but it was only when it had
ceased to be in my power to derive its most important benefits from such a conviction that I
perceived the necessity of becoming acquainted with more languages than that of my native
country. Now I am twenty-eight and am in reality more illiterate than many schoolboys of
fifteen. It is true that I have thought more and that my daydreams are more extended and
magnificent, but they want (as the painters call it) *keeping*; and I greatly need a friend who
would have sense enough not to despise me as romantic, and affection enough for me to
endeavour to regulate my mind.

Well, these are useless complaints; I shall certainly find no friend on the wide ocean, nor even
here in Archangel, among merchants and seamen. .[…]

Frankestein, Mery Shelly

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