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?