Day of the swallows by estela portillo
glossary: lice — мереживо; orb — крона; pail — відро.
josefa's sitting room is an unusually beautiful room, very feminine and done in good taste. the profusion of lace everywhere gives the room a delicate, ephemeral appearance. the lace pieces are lovely: needlepoint, hairpin, lim¬erick, the work of patience and love. upstage left is a large bay window; from it, one can view a large tree with a birdhouse of unusual size and shape, an orb that can accommodate a great number of birds. the room faces south, so it is flooded with light. there is almost a melting of light into lace, a peaceful seren¬ity. to the right is a door leading to the kitchen; there is another door leading to a bedroom. downstage left is a door leading to the outside.
when the curtain irises, alysea is sitting on the floor. it is before dawn, but a minute or so after the curtain rises, light begins to fill the room. alysea is clean¬ing the sitting room carpet, an unusual task for this hour. next to her is a pail. she uses a piece of cloth with quick frantic movements, rinses, and continues the rubbing of the carpet. after a while, she looks at the cloth in her hand almost in a trance, then with a growing horror. she drops it, raising herself to her knees; she stares at it, and then covers her face with her hands. she sits back on the floor leaning her head against a chair, looking helpless and lost. she is sobbing quietly. after a while, she stares at the new streaming light from the window, feeling its warmth as a comfort. the sound of a milk bell interrupts the silence. when she hears it, she jumps up, looks desperately about the room, wipes the traces of tears from her eyes and goes to the window and looks out.
section 1. true or false statements (+/-
1. josefa's room was unusually plai n.
2. there was lace everywhere.
3. from the large window one can view much of nature.
4. the room faces the east and is flooded with light.
5. alysea is sitting in an old chair as the curtain rises.
6. she is cleaning a stain on the carpet.
7. her movements to clean the carpet are slow and deliberate.
8.the light from the window gives her warmth and comfort.
9.the doorbell interrupts her morning silence.
10. when she hears the bell she hides behind the chair.
section 2. multiple choice. decide which of these statements are true and which of them are false.
11. the type of fabric used in the room gives it .
a) delicate, ephemeral appearance; b) cluttered appearance;
c) cold and dreary appearance; d) frightening appearance.
12. what do lace pieces that are there show?
a) little care for beauty; b) poor craftsmanship;
c) the work of patience and love; d) great wear.
13. from the large bay window one can view
a) a busy street; b) a large tree with many birds;
c) an empty courtyard; d) the wall of the building nextdoor.
14. the light that enters the room causes the lace to seem
a) catch fire; b) disappear;
c) melt into serenity; d) look dirty.
15. the doors leading from the room go to
a) kitchen; b) bedroom;
c) outside; d) all the above.
16. it is for alysea to clean the carpet at this hour, a) usual; b) unusual; c) not uncommon; d) common.
17. next to alysea is a
a) pail; b) potted plant;
c) stack of books; d) pale man.
18. after staring at the cloth in her hand for a while she
a) wipes her face with it;
b) blows her nose on it;
c) drops it and runs from the room crying;
d) drops it and covers her face with her hands.
19. the warm morning light from the window seems to give
a) watery eyes; b) stomach pains;
c) anxiety attacks; d) comfort.
20. when she hears the bell she
a) goes to the window to look out; b) hides;
c) begins crying again; d) lays down on the floor.
2+
3-
4-
5-
6+
7-
8+
9+
10-
11 a
12c
13 b
14 c
15 d
16 b
17 a
18 d
19 d
20a