Lives of the Writers (I): Jane Austen
(This listening passage can be found on side A of your tape
after the poems and three popular songs)
For more on Jane Austen, visit the Jane Austen Information Page.

Vocabulary:

Steventon
Winchester
novelist
witty
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
heroine
chocolate
shoulder
lounge
to cross one's legs
to blow
to absorb
high speed
parson
to wear through
dancing slippers
butterfly
proposal
to appreciate
to bear
far better to be...
to solve
to live apart from
to lead a life
domestic
Cassandra
to share
to be reserved
arrogant
fierce
agreeable
mouse
to think much about
to keep s.o. busy
needlework
to keep track of
silly
dinner party
to be civil
bad breath
humble
obedient
small sum
to persuade
wild beast
title page
piano
pound cake
drawing room
lap-size
mahogany
quill pen
to mend
"interruptible"
to call s.t. one's own
to foil
immense
curiosity
to fold in half
to jot down
shopping list
in fashion
aunt
niece, nephew
cheerful
energetic
to play with
pick-up sticks
cancer
tuberculosis
obituary
to be revealed as
gradually
to occur to
gravestone
Winchester Cathedral
to make no mention of
bookmark
opening sentence
universally
to acknowledge
in possession of
in want of
Elizabeth Bennet
delightful
creature
to appear
in print
Prince of Wales
group of fans
to dedicate
to be in a position to do s.t.
to refuse
discreet
in s.o.'s presence
to throw down
trash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Listening comprehension questions:
1. How many years did Jane Austen live?
2. What kind of main character was typical of Austen's novels?
3. What was the position of women in Austen's time?
4. How much formal education did Austen complete?
5. How did Austen's father contribute to Austen's education? What was his profession?
6. What proof does the narrator give of Austen's love of dance?
7. Why, apparently, did Austen never marry?
8. What was a disadvantage of being a single woman in Austen's time?
9. How did Austen save money?
10. How did strangers find Austen?
11. What did Austen 'keep track of'?
12. Who was listed as the author in Austen's early published works?
13. What did Austen like to prepare for breakfast?
14. How did Austen hide her work when visitors came?
15. How did Austen feel about her siblings' children?
16. Where is Austen buried?
17. Which of Austen's own novels was her personal favorite? Which heroine was probably most like Austen herself?
18. How did Austen feel about the Prince of Wales?
19. Which works of Jane Austen, if any, have you read, in English, Chinese, or other language?
20. If you have read any Austen novels, how do you feel about Austen's writing?


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