Junior Cycle English UNSEEN - Fiction: Read this extract, adapted from

Question

Read this extract, adapted from Natasha's Will by Joan Lingard, and answer the questions which follow.

Sonya and her brother, Alex, live in a large house that belonged to Natasha, an old lady they used to look after. Natasha has recently died.

The car pulled up in front of the house. Sonya ran across the lawn to meet it; Alex came from the stable. They reached the car at the same time.

The driver twitched his shoulders and rubbed the small of his back. He was dressed in fawnish-brown tweed with a cap to match; his passenger wore a dark, pinstripe suit.

‘Hi!’ it was Sonya who greeted them. She was the friendly always ready to talk. Alex liked to stand back until he summoned people up.

‘Good afternoon,’ said the man in the pinstripe suit. He had a very smooth, even voice.

‘Can I help you? Are you interested in our B&B?’

The new two were surveying the landscape, directing their eyes sweep over the lawn to the loch.

‘Nice situation,’ he commented. He seemed to be speaking more to himself than to her. ‘It’s fantastic,’ the other man added, turning to the loch.’

‘The old girl probably didn’t bother about it much in her later years. She was ninety odd, you know.’ Sonya felt herself bristling. Had he meant Natasha? Who did he think she was to refer to her as ‘the old girl’!

‘It’s a fine house, though,’ said pinstripe. ‘Excellent example of its era, I would say. A most desirable property.’

Property! That was the first note to strike a chill into their hearts. Brother and sister turned to look at each other. Alex’s frown was black.

‘I’m sure we can offer you some compensation.’

‘It’s ours!’ cried Sonya. ‘Natasha said she was leaving it to us. She told me she was! She wanted us to live on here after her.’

‘Where’s the will then?’ asked pinstripe, turning his palms upward as if ready to receive it. His hands looked thin and dry.

Read this extract, adapted from Natasha's Will by Joan Lingard, and answer the questions which follow - Junior Cycle English - Question 4 - 2011

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read this extract, adapted from Natasha's Will by Joan Lingard, and answer the questions which follow - Junior Cycle English - Question 4 - 2011

Where was Alex when the car arrived?

What did the driver do when he first got out of the car?

Why have the two men come to Natasha's house? Give reasons for your answer.

Was Natasha's house a nice house? Give reasons for your answer.

‘It’s ours!’ cried Sonya. ‘Natasha said she was leaving it to us. She told me she was!’ Why do you think Sonya cries out like this?

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