Read the following text and answer the questions 1-2.
Once
upon a time in Venice Venice
Antonio was a good
and kind man. He always helped the poor. The people of Venice
Antonio
had a close friend named Bassanio. He was a handsome young man and was born in
a noble family. Bassanio liked to live a very luxurious life. He loved grandeur
and style. He spent more money than his earnings. As a result, he was very
often short of money. In such situations, Bassanio would go to his best friend
Antonio for help. Antonio would, on the other hand, help him with cash.
It so happened that
Bassanio fell in love with a wealthy lady named Portia. Portia was known not
only for her beauty but also for her wisdom. She had softness towards Bassanio
too. He wanted to visit Portia in a grand manner but he did not have any money.
So he went to Antonio.
Bassanio said, “Dear
friend Antonio, I am in great need of some money. I would like to visit Portia
at Belmont
Antonio said, “This is not a problem, my
friend. How much do you need?”
“Three thousand ducats (Venetian
currency) will do.”
“I don’t have that much money with me
now as all my ships have gone out in the sea with merchandise. But don’t worry,
my friend, I’ll arrange three thousand ducats for you.”
So he decided to borrow the sum from a
moneylender named Shylock. Shylock was a very crooked man. Antonio and Shylock
hated each other. Shylock used to lend money with high interest. He would even
send the debtor to prison if the later failed to pay his debt. On the contrary,
Antonio used to lend money to help those who needed it and would not charge any
interest.
Shylock agreed to lend him money but on
one condition. If he failed to repay the money in three month’s time, he would
pay a penalty. Shylock would cut a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s
body.
Antonio willingly agreed, thinking that
his ships would soon return with all the rich merchandise and he could easily
return the money to Shylock by selling them. Shylock made Antonio sign a bond
before giving him the money. Antonio took the money and gave it to Bassanio.
1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1´7=7
(a) Antonio and
Bassanio were ¾
(i) Close
friends (ii) fierce
enemies
(iii)
bosom friends (iv) summer
friends
(b) Antonio
signed the agreement ¾
(i)
willingly (ii)
unwillingly
(iii)
conditionally (iv)
thoughtlessly
(c) 'merchandise'
means ¾.
(i) things
that are for sale
(ii) things
that merchants need
(iii)
things for advertisement
(iv) goods
of foreign countries
(d) Bassanio
wanted to appear before Portia ¾
(i) in a
poor dress (ii) in a grand
manner
(iii)
poorly dressed (iv) with
many friends
(e) Shylock lent
Antonio the money ¾–.
(i)
without any condition (ii) on a serious
condition
(iii) on
some conditions (iv) out of great love for him
(f) Which of the following has the closest
meaning of the world 'merchant'?
(i) Bayer (ii) Consumer
(iii)
Purchaser (iv)
Businessman
(g) Antonio had
no money with him because¾
(i) his
business was dull
(ii) he
suffered loss in business
(iii) his
ships capsized in the sea
(iv) his
ships were in the sea with merchandise
2. Answer the following questions. 2´5=10
(a) Why did
people of Venice
(b) "lf he
failed to repay the money in three months' time, them he has to pay a
penalty." What does the writer want to mean by this sentence?
(c) Do you think
that Antonio was really worthy of getting love from people? Why/Why not?
(d) What does
"Shylock would cut a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio's body'
indicate?
(e) Do you
support the attitude of Shylock to lend money with high interest? Why/ Why not?
Explain in two or three sentences.
