It was this very morning that Garrone let us know what he is like.
The master had not yet arrived, and three or four boys were bullying Crossi, the one with the red hair who has a dead arm and whose mother sells vegetables. They were hitting him in the face with chestnut shells. And he, alone on the end of the bench, became quite pale, begging that they leave him in peace.
All at once, Franti sprang upon a bench. Pretending that he was carrying a basket on each arm, he aped the mother of Crossi when she used to come to wait for her son at door. Many began to laugh loudly and Crossi was trembling and turning red with anger.
Suddenly Crossi seized an inkstand and threw it at the other’s head with all his strength, but Franti moved aside, and the inkstand struck the master who entered at the moment, full in the breast. All flew to their places and became silent with terror. The master, quite pale, went to his table, and said in a controlled voice:
“Who did it?”
No one replied.
The master cried out once more, raising his voice still louder, “Who is it?”
Then Garrone, moved to pity for poor Crossi, rose sharply and said resolutely, “ It was I.”
The master looked at him, looked at the confused scholars, then said in a calm voice, “It was not you.”
And after a moment. “The culprit shall not be punished. Let him rise!”
Crossi rose and said, weeping “They were striking me and insulting me, and I lost my head and threw it.”
“Sit down,” said the master. “Let those who provoked him rise.”
Four rose and hung their heads. “You,” said the master, “have insulted an unfortunate companion; you have struck a weak person who could not defend himself. You have committed one of the most shameful acts!”
Then he went over to Garrone and looked him straight in the eye, and said to him, “You are a noble soul.”
Garrone profited by the occasion to murmur some words, I know not what, in the ear of the master; and he, turning towards the four boys, said abruptly, “I forgive you.”
4. What finally provoked Crossi to throw an inkstand?
A.Franti made fun of Crossi’s mother walking with a dead arm. |
B.Franti imitated the way Crossi’s mother carried her basket. |
C.The boys hit Crossi in the face hard with chestnut shells. |
D.The boys pulled Crossi upon a bench and laughed at him loudly. |
5. The underlined word “
culprit” probably means ________.
A.advocate | B.leader | C.captain | D.offender |
6. The master praised Garrone as a noble soul because ________.
A.he dared to speak his mind | B.he forgave the four bullies |
C.he took the blame for Crossi | D.he brought bad guys to justice |
7. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.A Generous Deed | B.A Domestic Incident |
C.Making the Right Choice | D.To Believe or Not to Believe |