child- genius went flitting through her head. She knew that these sort of wonders do pop up in the world from time to time, but

only once or twice in a hundred years. After all, Mozart was only five when he started composing for the piano and look what

happened to him. So the teacher could not resist the temptation of exploring still further the mind of this astonishing child. She

knew that she ought to be paying some attention to the rest of the class but in vain did she try to do it. She was altogether too

excited to let the matter rest.

2. "This particular type of poetry is called a limerick," Miss Honey, the teacher, said. "This one is very famous," she said,

picking up the book and returning to her table in front of the class. "A witty limerick is very hard to write," she added, "they

look easy but they most certainly are not." "I know," Matilda said. "I've tried quite a few times but mine are never any good."

"I insist upon hearing one of them," Miss Honey said, smiling one of her rare smiles. On hearing the limerick, written about

her, Miss Honey's pale and pleasant face blushed a brilliant scarlet.

And now Miss Honey's hopes began to expand even further. She started wondering whether permission might not be got from

the parents for her to give private tuition to Matilda after school. "There is no point," she said to the girl, "in you siting in class

doing nothing while I am teaching the rest of the form how to spell cat and rat and mouse." The prospect of coaching a child as

bright as this appealed enormously to her professional instinct as a teacher. Having got the address from the school records,

Miss Honey found a house in a pleasant street. She rang the bell, and while she stood waiting she could hear the television

blaring inside.

3. The door was opened by a small ratty-looking man, Matilda's father. "Please forgive me for butting in on you like this. I

am Matilda's teacher at school and it is important I have a word with you and your wife. I expect you know that your daughter

has a brilliant mind." "We are not in favour of blue-stocking girls. A girl should think about making herself look attractive. A

girl doesn't get a man by being brainy," the father said. Miss Honey could hardly believe what she was hearing. In vain did she

try to explain that with the proper coaching Matilda could be brought up to university status in two or three years. "Who wants

to go to university for heaven's sake! All they learn there is bad habits!" "But if you got sued for selling someone a rotten

second-hand car, you'd have to get a lawyer and he'd be a university graduate. Do not despise clever people, Mr. Wormwood,

said Miss Honey and away she went."

4. Lavender was in the row behind Matilda, feeling a bit guilty. She hadn't intended to get her friend into trouble.

"You are not fit to be in this school!" The Headmistress was now shouting. "You ought to be behind bars, that's where you

ought to be! I shall have you drummed out of this establishment in utter disgrace! I shall have the prefects chase you down the

corridor and out of the front-door with hockey-sticks! I shall have the staff escort you home after armed guard! And then I shall

make absolutely sure you are sent to a reformatory for delinquent girls for the minimum of forty years!"

But Matilda was also losing her school. She didn't in the least mind being accused of having done something she had

actually done. She could see the justice of that. It was, however, a totally new experience for her to be accused of a crime that

she definitely had not committed. She had had absolutely nothing to do with that beastly creature in the glass!

Matilda, sitting in the second row, cupped her face in her hands, and this time she concentrated the whole of her mind and her

brain and her will up into her eyes. Without making any sound at all she kept on shouting inside her head for the glass to go

over. She saw it wobble, then, it tilted and fell on the table. Miss Honey's mouth dropped open but she didn't say a word. She

couldn't. The shock of seeing the miracle performed had struck her dumb. She had gaped at the glass, leaning well away from

it. Never, never in the life had she seen anything of the kind happen! She looked at Matilda. She saw the child white in the face,

trembling all over, the eyes glazed, staring straight ahead and seeing nothing.

(From "Matilda" by R.Dahl)

83. Choose the alternative that fits the sentence.

1. I shall not waste time (to reply, reply, replying) to his letter.

2. It's high time (we go, we went, to go).

3. I'd rather (stay, staying, to stay) in tonight.

4. There is no point (to argue, in arguing, you argue) with him.

5. We had to stand up (to get, getting, to getting) a better view of the game.

6. I think we had better (go, going, to go).

7. I will agree (help, helping, to help) you as long as you behave yourself.

8. Would you care (to have, have, having) a look at my latest effort?

9. It's nearly lunch time. Why don't we stop (to have, to having, having) a snack?

10. Isn't it about time (you started, you start, starting) taking life seriously?

11. It's no use (you complain, to complain, complaining), nobody will take any notice of you.

12. I'm longing (see, to see, to seeing) you again.

13. He seems (feel, feeling, to be feeling) better today.

14. The car needs (to service, being serviced, servicing).

15. I daren't (go, to go, going) out after dark.

16. What's the use (to worry, you worry, of worrying)?

17. If you need anything, please do not hesitate (to ask, asking, ask).

18. Hadn't we better (leave, leaving, to leave) soon?

84.Combine the two sentences into one using the necessary pronoun.

1.The air surrounds us. It consists of various elements.

2.I had a stick. I defended myself with it.

3.Your brother surprised me with his learning. I was introduced to him yesterday.

4.Silk is much worn in Europe. The Chinese had the merit if discovering it.

5.The palace is magnificent. The Queen lives in it.

6.You have told me something. I shall not forget it.

7.Bill came home on a certain day. I do not remember it.

8.The bridge is very high. I passed over it yesterday.

9.The water is very refreshing. I tasted it.

10. The picture was very fine. The artist took along time to paint it.

11.The climate is warm. It prevails in India.

12.Rats do much damage. They multiply very fast.

13.I had money on me. I gave it to a beggar.

14He did not like the bread. I was'in the habit of eating it.

15.Show me the book. You have read it.

16.The sun is far away. Our light comes from it.

17.Steel pens last a long time. They were invented long ago.

18.The ship was very small. Columbus crossed the Atlantic in it.

19.The microscope is very useful. We can see invisible objects with it.

20.The nineteenth century was called the age of machinery. Machinery came into use in it.

21.The swallows were assembling for their flight. I saw them yesterday.

22.The cup was very old. The servant broke it.

85. Insert the right article.

I. In 1665 ... great plague raged in London. ... insanitary conditions of ... houses, ... narrowness of ... streets, ... dirty habits

of ... people, all helped to spread ... disease. ... people died in ... thousands, and every day ... carts used to go round from ...

house to ... house to collect... dead, accompanied by ... man crying: "Bring out your dead!" ... rich who could afford to do so