Reading tasks for logical-mathematical
by Rolf Palmberg
Frank thought he was just ordinary. His face was ordinary. So were his clothes. Not like the man sitting next to him. There was something odd about his mouth. He tried not to catch his eye. He might start a conversation. Interesting that he was just in front of him in the queue. They looked in his bags and pockets – even made him remove his shoes. Now people were starting to get their blankets down. He guessed everything would be quiet in an hour. Then he would act. They had looked in his briefcase too. But they didn’t find anything. He put his hand into his pocket. Marvellous how small they can make them these days, he thought. If he were sitting in funny mouth’s seat, he could probably look down and see the mountains gleaming in the moonlight. He smiled to himself. Then he went over his speech again. He must not forget what his demands were.
1. Where does this take place?
2. What time of day is it?
3. What word does Frank think best describes him?
4. ‘There was something odd about his mouth.’ Who does the word ‘his’ refer to?
5. ‘He tried not to catch his eye.’ Who is ‘he’?
6. ‘He might start a conversation.’ Who is ‘he’?
7. ‘… he was just in front of him in the queue.’ What is the ‘queue’ referred to in the text?
8. ‘They looked in his bags ...’ Who are ‘they’?
9. ‘They looked in his bags ...’ Who does the word ‘his’ refer to?
10. ‘… even made him remove his shoes.’ Explain this remark.
11. ‘… people were starting to get their blankets down.’ What were they planning to do?
12. ‘Then he would act.’ What does Frank intend to do?
13. ‘They had looked in his briefcase too.’ Who does the word ‘his’ refer to?
14. ‘But they didn’t find anything.’ Explain this remark.
15. ‘He put his hand into his pocket.’ Why does Frank do so?
16. ‘Marvellous how small they can make them these days.’ Who are ‘they’?
17. ‘Marvellous how small they can make them these days.’ Who or what does the word ‘them’ refer to?
18. Who is ’funny mouth’?
19. ‘Then he went over his speech again.’ What is the ‘speech’ referred to in the text?
20. ‘He must not forget what his demands were.’ What are the ‘demands’ referred to in the text?
1. In a plane.
2. Late evening or night.
4. The man sitting next to Frank.
6. The man sitting next to Frank.
7. The queue for the security control at the airport.
8. Airport security guards.
9. The man sitting next to Frank.
10. The security guards also checked the man’s shoes.
11. They were getting ready to go to sleep.
12. Hijack the plane.
14. The security guards found nothing prohibited or suspicious.
15. He checked that his weapon was still in his pocket.
16. Arms manufacturers.
17. The type of weapon that Frank had.
18. The man sitting next to Frank.
19. What he was going to say to the air personnel.
20. The sum of money he planned to demand from the airline company.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO GREECE?
It is December. Michael is standing in the arrival hall at Helsinki airport, tanned and relaxed. He is wearing a white T-shirt with a red text saying Kos, Greece. Peter, an old friend from long ago, sees him and walks up to him.
“Hi, Michael. Have you been to Greece?”
“Yes, I have.”
“How was it?”
“To be honest, I can hardly remember anything at all.”
“You must remember something. What was the weather like?”
“It was raining non-stop every day.”
“Then how can you be so tanned?”
“I spent five or six hours in the sun every day last week.”
“Have you had a lot to drink lately?”
“Indeed I have. Several litres every day.”
Peter shakes his head and walks away.
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