Writer: Chinua Achebe, Nigerian writer Characters: Jonathan Iwegbu His wife and three children The thieves The neighbors Summary: After the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970) ends, Jonathan Iwegbu feels very happy and lucky to find himself, his wife and their three children still alive. He recovers his bicycle which he had hidden burying under the soil... Continue Reading →
An Astrologer’s Day
Writer: R. K. Narayan, Indian writer Characters: An astrologer Guru Nayak The astrologer’s wife Summary: An astrologer earns his living through the business of fortune telling. With his forehead smeared with sacred ash and vermilion, and a saffron-colored turban around his head, he sits under a tree in a park and gives service to his... Continue Reading →
The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun
Writer: Shankar Lamichhane, Nepalese writer Characters: A foreign tourist A tourist guide (Nepalese) Special technique used: Stream of consciousness Summary: A foreign tourist has read about Nepal and, fascinated, has come to see the country’s beauty with his own eyes. Talking to his Nepalese guide he praises beautiful smiles and eyes of Nepal – from... Continue Reading →
The Treasure in the Forest
Genre: Short story Writer: H. G. Wells (1866-1946), English novelist, journalist, sociologist, and historian, best known for science fiction novels. Theme: Consequence of greed Characters: 1. Evans 2. Hooker 3. Chang-hi Summary One night in a forest Evans and Hooker, two English wastrels, overhear three Chinamen talk about lost Spanish treasure. A Chinaman, named Chang-hi,... Continue Reading →
Modal and Non-Modal Verbs
Permission We use may or can when we ask for or give permission. We use may not or can’t to refuse permission. May is more formal. A: May / Can we leave? B: No, you may not / can’t. We use be allowed to to talk about rules made by someone else. The teacher... Continue Reading →
Modal Verbs
Can / can’t and could / couldn’t for factual (im)possibility We use can / can’t to say what is generally possible / impossible in fact. It can get very hot at this time of year. Plants can’t survive without sunlight. We use could / couldn’t to say what was / wasn’t generally possible in fact... Continue Reading →
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