A Surprise for Mr. Koffer

A Surprise for Mr. Koffer

1. Background Knowledge

2. Text Analysis

3. Exercises

4. Questions For Discussion

Background Knowledge

Switzerland: Switzerland is a landlocked central European country with a population of 6,586,000 and Bern as its capital. Four languages are spoken in this country: German, French, Italian and Romansh. A highly industrialized country, Switzerland exports watches, jewelry, precision tools and instruments, textiles and chemicals. Tourism and international banking are its major industries.Switzerland maintained an armed neutrality in both the world wars. In 1986 voters rejected a proposal to join the United Nations.

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Berlin: Berlin was the capital of Germany from 1871 to 1945. Since the Second World War it has been divided into East Berlin (formerly the Russian zone, now capital of East Germany) and West Berlin (a state of West Germany). West Berlin contains 12 districts of the original city and is divided into British, French and US zones. East Berlin contains 8 districts of the old city. Up until 1989 the Berlin Wall separated both halves of the city. Now the cities and two countries have been reunited into one Germany.

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In England children finish school at the ages of 16 to 18. At this age they either get a job and become a member of the work force, or go on to college. The legal age for adulthood is 18. This enables one to marry without parental permission, to buy alcoholic beverages, and to participate in many other privileges given only to “adults”.

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1. True/False Questions

2. Multiple-choice Questions

True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families.

Answer

True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families.

Answer

True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families.

Answer

True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. (T) 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. 5.This story happened between two families.

Answer

True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. (T) 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. (F) 5.This story happened between two families.

Answer

True/False Questions 1.The Bakers were English. (T) 2.They didn’t talk very often with their neighbours. (F) 3.Peter was warm-hearted and asked his parents to sell dance tickets in the neighbourhood to help the homeless children in Switzerland. (T) 4.The family at number 28 got two tickets before going to the dance. (F) 5.This story happened between two families. (T)

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True/False Questions

6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans.

Answer


6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. (T) 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans.

Answer


6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. (T) 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. (F) 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans.

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6. Peter came home late that day because he had been selling tickets for the school dance. (T) 7. Peter was not a hard-working student at school, and was a trouble-maker at home. (F) 8. Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, suggested having a school dance to collect money to help a school for orphans. (T)

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9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box.

Answer


9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. (F) 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box.

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9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. (F) 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. (F) 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box.

Answer


9. The Boxes were angry with Mr. Baker because of the two extra tickets. (F) 10. At the school dance, the Boxes were glad to meet the German teacher, with whom they could speak German. (F) 11. Mr. Box changed his name after he settled down in England. Koffer is the German word for a box. (T)

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Multiple-choice Questions

1. Which of the following is not true about Peter? A) He was a good student at school. B) He had a young teacher who taught him German. C) He had to go to school on that week-end to help with the preparation for the dance. D) He often came home late in the evening.

Answer


1. Which of the following is not true about Peter? (D) A) He was a good student at school. B) He had a young teacher who taught him German. C) He had to go to school on that week-end to help with the preparation for the dance. D) He often came home late in the evening.

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2. Mr. Baker didn’t like to go to number 28 because . A) he didn’t like the old house with a high wall round the garden B) he didn’t know who was living there C) he felt it hard to start a conversation with strangers D) he thought it funny to sell dance tickets to a man with one arm

Answer


2. Mr. Baker didn’t like to go to number 28 because . (A) A) he didn’t like the old house with a high wall round the garden B) he didn’t know who was living there C) he felt it hard to start a conversation with strangers D) he thought it funny to sell dance tickets to a man with one arm

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3.The writer’s view about Mrs. Baker is that . A) she knew how to sell the tickets B) she liked to help selling the tickets C) she was too active in selling the tickets D) she used to make trouble for others

Answer


3.The writer’s view about Mrs. Baker is that . (C) A) she knew how to sell the tickets B) she liked to help selling the tickets C) she was too active in selling the tickets D) she used to make trouble for others

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4. Mrs. Baker sold two tickets to Mr. Box’s servant without knowing . A) her husband had already sold Mr. Box two tickets B) her son had to go to Mr. Box and explain all about it C) she would make the Boxes angry D) Mr. Box couldn’t go to the dance

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4. Mrs. Baker sold two tickets to Mr. Box’s servant without knowing . (A) A) her husband had already sold Mr. Box two tickets B) her son had to go to Mr. Box and explain all about it C) she would make the Boxes angry D) Mr. Box couldn’t go to the dance

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5. At the dance, Mr. Koffer and Mr. Box were laughing, but Mrs. Box was crying because . A) she felt lonely without any information of her son B) she was sad to have sent away her son C) she was very angry that they bought four tickets D) she was overjoyed to find her lost son, Mr. Koffer

Answer


5. At the dance, Mr. Koffer and Mr. Box were laughing, but Mrs. Box was crying because . (D) A) she felt lonely without any information of her son B) she was sad to have sent away her son C) she was very angry that they bought four tickets D) she was overjoyed to find her lost son, Mr. Koffer

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6. The main idea of the story is . A) that efforts to help others often lead to great rewards B) what one loses, one will find again C) wonderful things happen at dance parties D) if one changes one’s family name, one may lose a son

Answer


6. The main idea of the story is . (A) A) that efforts to help others often lead to great rewards B) what one loses, one will find again C) wonderful things happen at dance parties D) if one changes one’s family name, one may lose a son

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Questions for Discussion

1. What do you know about the Bakers?

Reference Answer


1. What do you know about the Bakers? The Bakers must be a harmonious and happy family. We can easily see the cooperative attitude of the family members to help one another. Mr. Baker is an honest man and does not like trouble. Mrs. Baker is a smart woman and has a glib tongue.

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2. What’s the author’s attitude towards war?

Reference Answer


2. What’s the author’s attitude towards war? The author’s opinion is implied rather than stated directly. We have to “read between the lines”. From the text we can see many families were divided in the war. Parents lost their children. (Mr. Box lost his son Hans.) Children became orphans. (Mr. Koffer was brought up in an orphanage.) Many people got wounded and became disabled. (Mr. Box lost one arm in the war.) Countless people were killed in the war. (All Box’s old friends in Germany died during the war.)

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2. What’s the author’s attitude towards war? People were distressed because of the sufferings they underwent during the war. (Mr. and Mrs. Box looked old for their age. Both had white hair like old people. Mrs. Box’s beautiful face was sad and deeply lined. They lived a lonely life, cut off from the outside world.) Just as the proverb goes “when war begins, then hell opens”. In the writer’s eyes, war is cruel. It has a terrible impact upon countless families. It brings disaster to people, making them suffer both physically and mentally.

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Text Analysis

A Surprise for Mr. Koffer War is like a nightmare ([] 恶梦 ). During World War II thousands of families all over the world suffered a great deal and Mr. Koffer’s family was one of them. Rupert Baker put on his glasses and sat down to read the newspaper. It was nearly time for dinner, but his son was not yet back from school.

Text Analysis “Why is Peter so late this evening?” he asked his wife. “I don’t know, dear. He usually gets home at five o’clock, and now it’s nearly half past seven. Perhaps he has a new girl friend.” Mr. Baker did not like some of Peter’s girl friends, but he was too wise to say so. The boy worked hard at school and gave no trouble at home. At seventeen he was old enough to take care of himself. Just then the door opened, and Peter came in.

Text Analysis

“I’m sorry to be so late, Dad. I was selling tickets for the school dance tomorrow night.” “School dance? That’s something new. Why are you having a dance in the summer?” “There’s a school in Switzerland for children who have no fathers or mothers. They come from many different countries, and the school is their home. Mr. Koffer, our new German teacher, told us about it. Look at these.” He pulled some pictures out of his school bag and began to show them to his father.

Text Analysis

“Come along, you two,” Mrs. Baker called from the next room. “Come and have your dinner before it gets cold.” Peter took the pictures with him to the dinner table and went on talking. “Mr. Koffer was at that school himself when he was a boy. He was very happy there and he wants us all to do something to help. We are selling dance tickets for one pound each, and all the money will go to the school in Switzerland.”

Text Analysis

“You want me to buy two tickets, I suppose?” said Mr. Baker, laughing. “Yes. And I want you to sell some tickets too, Dad.” Mr. Baker stopped laughing. “I can’t do that. I’m much too busy. Why can’t you do it all yourself?”

Text Analysis

“Each boy has to sell the tickets to people who live in his own road. I called at every house, but at number 17 and number 28 nobody answered the door. I have to go to school tomorrow, but you don’t work on Saturdays, so you can try those two houses in the morning.” “Number 17? That’s my dressmaker’s house,” said his mother. “I’ll go and see her for you.”

Text Analysis

“That leaves me with number 28.” Mr. Baker did not seem very pleased. “It’s that old house, with a high wall round the garden, isn’t it? There’s something strange about that place. A man called Box lives there with his wife. I’ve never seen them, because they never go out. Their servant buys everything for them in the shops, and he isn’t English. I spoke to him once, but he didn’t understand me.”

Text Analysis

His son looked at him and laughed. “You’re not afraid, are you, Dad?” “Of course I’m not.” Now Mr. Baker had to go. “I’ll be glad to meet Mr. Box. Give me the tickets.” Next morning, when his wife was shopping, Mr. Baker went down the road to number 28. He tried the front door first, but nobody came to open it. Then he walked round the house to the back door.

Text Analysis

Before he reached it, he noticed a man and a woman sitting in the garden. They both had white hair, like very old people. The man had only one arm. “What do you want, please?” he called. At first Mr. Baker was too surprised to answer, for the man’s voice seemed quite young, and it was not an English voice.

Text Analysis

“I’m selling tickets for a dance.” Mr. Baker wanted to run away. How could he sell dance-tickets to a man with only one arm? But it was too late to turn back now. He had to go on. “It’s to help a school in Switzerland for children with no mothers and fathers.” He walked over to their chairs, and the man looked at the tickets. Then he looked at his wife. She had a beautiful face, but it was sad and deeply lined.

Text Analysis

“Yes,” he said at last, speaking very slowly, “I will buy two tickets. We do not dance, but we will help the children.” Mr. Baker thanked him and went home. Soon his wife came back from the shops. “You needn’t go to number 28,” she said. “My dressmaker is away in London; but I met the servant from number 28 in the flower shop, and he bought my two tickets for Mr. and Mrs. Box.”

Text Analysis

Mr. Baker was not surprised. When his wife wanted to do something, like selling tickets for a dance, nobody could stop her. Peter often said that his mother “could talk the back leg off a donkey.” Few people were strong-minded enough to say “no” to her. “You don’t look very pleased, dear. Have I done the wrong thing?”

Text Analysis

“Yes. Mr. Box now has four tickets.” He told her about his visit to number 28. “I’m not going back there. Mr. Box will be angry. Peter must go and see them about it when he comes home. I’ve had enough.” Mr. Baker did not like trouble. He put on his oldest clothes and went out to work in the garden. Peter was busy at school, helping Mr. Koffer to get everything ready for the dance. He did not return home until late in the afternoon.

Text Analysis “I can’t go now, Dad,” he said when his father told him about Mr. Box’s four tickets. “If he comes to the dance, I’ll see him there. If he doesn’t, I’ll call at his house tomorrow.” The Bakers could not see any sign of Mr. Box when they got to the dance. There were several hundred people there, and it was almost impossible to move round the room. Peter soon found a girl friend and began to dance with her, but his father and mother felt too old for this kind of dancing. They sat down at a small table and watched.

Text Analysis

When the music stopped, Peter brought them something to drink. Then Mrs. Baker noticed something. “Look! There’s a man with one arm on the other side of the room. There’s a lady with him, and they’re both white-haired. They must be your people from number 28, Rupert.” “Yes, and they’re talking to Mr. Koffer,” said Peter.

Text Analysis

“And they’re talking so noisily that everyone is looking at them,” said his father. “They must be very angry.” The music started again, and they could not see across the room any more because of the dancers. But Mr. Koffer and the two white-haired people were walking round the room towards them. “Here comes trouble!” said Mr. Baker. “Oh, why did we come here? Everyone will hear about it now.”

Text Analysis

He stopped and stood up in surprise as they reached his table. The German teacher and Mr. Box were laughing, but Mrs. Box was crying. He gave her his chair. “I’m very, very sorry,” began Mr. Baker, but Hans Koffer stopped him. He looked young to be a teacher and he had a friendly face. “There is nothing to be sorry about, Mr. Baker. This is the happiest day of my life. And I have to thank your family for that.”

Text Analysis

Mr. Baker stood there with his mouth open, but said nothing. He could not understand at all. Then the white-haired man spoke. “My good friend,” he said in his slow, heavy English, “today you have given us back our son!” “Your son? But — I don’t understand.”

Text Analysis

“Hans Koffer is our son, Mr. Baker. He was one year old when the war started. I was a soldier, and my wife was working for the government in Berlin. In 1944 she sent Hans to live with friends in the country, as it was not safe in Berlin. We never saw him again.” He put his one arm round his wife. She was not crying now, but her gentle face looked more sad and tired than ever.

Text Analysis

“My wife and I were caught by the enemy and taken to Moscow. After four years we were set free, but all our friends in Germany were dead. We could not find Hans.” “But why do you have a different name?” “I understand that, I think,” said Peter, looking at his German teacher. “Many people change their names when they come to live in England. And Koffer is the German word for a box, you know.”

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ticket [ ] n. 入场券，票=written or printed piece of card or paper giving the holder the right to travel in a train, bus, ship, etc or to a seat in a cinema, concert hall, etce.g. Do you want a single ticket or a return ticket? 你要单程票还是往返票？

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dressmaker []n. 裁缝=person who makes women’s dressese.g. I’ll ask my dressmaker to make another coat for my daughter. 我要请我的裁缝再为我女儿做一件衣服。

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donkey [] n. 驴=asse.g. Dish-washing is really a donkey-work. 洗盘子的确是件辛苦而令人讨厌的工作。

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sign [] n. 迹象，标记=something that gives evidencee.g. There are no signs of life about the house. 这房子没有有人住的迹象。

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come along 快点，赶快e.g. Come along — we’ll be late for the theatre! 赶快——我们看戏要迟到了 !

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run away 逃走e.g. The maid ran away with the duchess’s jewels. 女仆带了公爵夫人的珠宝逃走了。

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go on 继续，说下去e.g. How much longer will this hot weather go on?这种热天气还要继续多久？

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set free 释放，使…自由=give freedome.g. The prisoner will be set free as soon as the fine is paid.一交清罚款，囚犯就可以被释放。

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That leaves me with number 28.That is to say I have to go to number 28.这么说，我是非去 28 号不可了。

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He had to go on.他只得硬着头皮往下说。

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Peter often said that his mother “could talk the back leg off a donkey”.彼得常说他妈有一条三寸不烂之舌。 talk the back leg off a donkey: an idiom, meaning to talk so much that she will make anyone listen to her in the end

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“My good friend,” he said in his slow, heavy English, “today you have given us back our son!”“ 我亲爱的朋友，” 他说道，他英语说得很慢，声音深沉且又含糊不清，“今天你们帮我找到了我们的儿子。” in his slow, heavy English: he spoke English slowly, with a deep, unclear voice 用浑浊不清的英语 Return

Mr. Baker did not like some of Peter’s girl friend, but he was too wise to say so.贝克先生并不喜欢彼得的有些女朋友，不过他想还是不说为妙。be too + 形容词 + to do ，太…以至于不…e.g. He is too sick to talk to you. 他病得太重了，不能和你说话。

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在文章中同样的还有：Mr. Baker was too surprised to answer.贝克先生太吃惊了，没有回答。But it was too late to turn back now.可话已出口，无法收回。

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At seventeen he was old enough to take care of himself.他都十七岁了，完全能够自己照顾自己了。be + 形容词 + enough + to do, 已经…足以…e.g. He is clever enough to answer all the questions. 他非常聪明，能够回答所有的问题。 More

在文章中相同的还有：Few people were strong-minded enough to say “no” to her.很少有人能够固执到对她说声“不”。

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She had a beautiful face, but it was sad and deeply lined.她曾经有张漂亮的脸庞，但现在神色忧伤，满脸皱纹。but it was sad and deeply lined: but the face was sad and covered with wrinkles

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Peter soon found a girl friend and began to dance with her, but his father and mother felt too old for this kind of dancing.彼得很快找到了一个女伴，开始跟她跳舞，而他父母已经跳不动这种舞了。

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“There is nothing to be sorry about, Mr. Baker. This is the happiest day of my life. And I have to thank your family for that.”“ 贝克先生，你根本用不着道歉。今天是我最幸福的一天，而且感谢你们全家为此所作的一切。”

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Mr. Baker stood there with his mouth open, but said nothing.贝克先生站在那儿，张着嘴却什么也说不出来。

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They must be your people from number 28: They must be the people you are looking for from number 28.

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could not see any sign of Mr. Box: could not see Mr. Box at all

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Moscow ([]): capital of the former Soviet Union

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What is the surprise for Mr. Koffer?

Answer

What is the surprise for Mr. Koffer? He met his parents at the school dance, who had been separated from him since he was a child.

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Why did Peter come home late that day?

Answer

Why did Peter come home late that day? He was selling tickets for the school dance.

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Who suggested having a school dance? And why?

Answer

Who suggested having a school dance? And why? Mr. Koffer, the German teacher, tried to collect money to help a school in Switzerland for orphans.

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Did this school have anything to do with Mr. Koffer?

Answer

Did this school have anything to do with Mr. Koffer? Yes, he was brought up there.

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Who lived in house number 28? What kind of life did they live?

Answer

Who lived in house number 28? What kind of life did they live? A foreigner called Box and his wife. A lonely and isolated life.

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How many tickets did the Boxes get?

Answer

How many tickets did the Boxes get? Four, two from Mr. Baker and two from Mrs. Baker.

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What is the relationship between Mr. Box and Mr. Koffer?

Answer

What is the relationship between Mr. Box and Mr. Koffer? Father and son.

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Were the Boxes angry with Mr. Baker because of the extra tickets?

Answer

Were the Boxes angry with Mr. Baker because of the extra tickets? No. Instead they were grateful to him. If Mr. Baker had not sold them the tickets, they would not have met their son.

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How does the story end?

Answer

How does the story end? It ends in the happy reunion of the family.

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A Surprise for Mr. Koffer

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