English Literature Learning: The Piano "Chapter 4: An Old Piano"

Chapter 4: An Old Piano (Summary)

One day Mr. Wood told Tony, John and Pip to clean an old wooden building near the farmhouse so as he would use that building to keep his new car he just bought. While they were cleaning, Tony accidentally saw an old thing and that was an old piano. Then he began playing an old song. Nobody taught him how to play the piano before but his mind and feeling told his fingers what to do with the piano. Later, Linda, who was Mr. Wood’s daughter, suddenly came in the room to bring some cake, milk and water for them and she heard Tony playing the piano. She then asked Tony where he learned to play the piano. Tony told her that nobody taught him before. But he could play it. Linda was impressed by Tony's talent of playing the piano without learning. Tony wanted to get that piano, so he asked Mr. Wood about that and Mr. Wood told Tony to get rid of it as soon as possible. Tony then didn't know where to put the piano. He discussed about this with Pip and John. Pip suggested that Tony sell for money. John told Tony to take the piano and keep it at Tony's house. After the discussion, Tony went to bed and he was thinking about the piano before he was asleep.  

Are these sentences True (T) or False (F). Correct the false ones.

1.     Tony found an old piano in a farmhouse.

2.     Linda, Mr Wood’s wife, brought some cake and milk to Tony, Pip and John.

3.     The piano Tony found was made of beautiful, dark brown wood.

4.     The title of the song Tony played was “Green Scenery”

5.     Tony told Linda he had had music lessons at school.

6.     Tony thought he must get rid of the piano.

7.     Mr. Wood asked Tony to bring that piano to keep at the farmhouse. 

Answer these questions below: 

1.     What did Mr. Wood tell Tony, Pip and John to do?

2.     What were Tony doing when Linda stood behind him?

3.     What did Tony, Pip and John do at the building near the farmhouse?

4.     What did Tony decide to do after he found a piano?

5.     What did Pip suggest Tony to do with the piano?

6.     What did John advise Tony to do with the piano?
7.  How was the feeling of Tony when he found a piano? 
8.  What did Linda think of Tony when she heard the music Tony played? 
9.  Did Mr. Wood want that piano Tony found? 
10. Did Mr. Wood know that Tony could play the piano? 

English Literature Learning: The Piano "Chapter 3: A Farmer's Boy"

Chapter 3: A Farmer's Boy (Summary)

Tony got a job on a farm which was about 100 kilometres from his house. The owner of the farm, Mr. Wood, was very kind to him, loved him. Mr.Tony was very happy working for Mr. Wood. He ate much good country food and drank a lot of milk provided by the Wood family.  He met Pip and John who came to work on the farm on their school holiday. Their father wanted them to become businessmen. But they didn't want to be like his dad wanted them to be. They wanted to work on the farm. They wished to become farmer. They thought that the farming was the great job in the world because it helped feed millions of people. When they met Tony, they liked Tony. All of them enjoyed working for Mr. Wood even they didn't get much pay from Mr. Wood. 

Mark if the statements below are true (T) or False (F) . Change the false statements into the true ones.

1. On the farm, Tony worked very hard and didn't sleep well.
2. Mr. Wood, the owner of the farm where Tony worked, had a daughter who was       older than Tony. Her name was Linda.
3. The old farmer paid Tony much money.
4. The farm was very kind to Tony and taught him a lot.
5. Tony ate good country food cooked by Mr. Wood.
6. Ton was happy working on the farm even after the end of each day his back was tired and his legs hurt.
7. Tony didn't enjoy his family visits when he sometimes visited his family.

Answer these questions:

1.     How long was it from where the bus finally stopped to the farmhouse?
2.     Where did Tony sleep at Mr. wood's house?
3.     On the school holidays in Summer, who came to work with Tony?
4.     How old were they? Who were they to each other? 
5.     What did their father want them to be in the future?
6.     What did their father do?
7.     What did they think about the job of farming? 

English Literature Learning: The Piano "Chapter 2: A Poor Boy "

Chapter 2: A Poor Boy (Summary) 

Mr. Tony studied in an old school which was located in his neighbourhood.  At school he was slow and silent. He didn't do well at all.  He didn't enjoy the lessons in class. He always waited for the class to finish so that he could go home. Every Tuesday, Mrs. Lark came to his school to play piano for children to listen and sing along. The children liked that teacher and they enjoyed listening and singing. Tony left the school to look for an employment when he was thirteen years old. He didn't want to quit his study, but he needed the money to support his big family. He had got six members in a poor family and he was the oldest child in the family. They lived in a very small dirty house where the toilet was outside in the yard. At that time poor people including Mr. Tony didn't hear music very often. 

Mark if the statements below are true (T) or False (F) . Change the false statements into the true ones: 

1.     Mr. Grey did enjoy teaching children.

2.     Tony was one of Mr. Grey’s students. He was clever, but very slow and quiet.

3.     At Tony's school, Tuesdays were always the writing days.

4.     His class finished at four o'clock in the evening. 

5.     Mrs. Lark, an old lady, came to school every Wednesday to play the piano for children to sing along.

6.     In those days, poor people could hear music very often as they could afford.  

7.     There were concerts in the town and Tony often went to them to listen.   

8.     In Tony’s  family, there were six-teen members and Tony was the youngest.

9.     In Tony’s house, there was no bathroom and the toilet was outside in the yard. Everyone washed in kitchen. 

Answer the questions below:

1.     At what age did the poor children usually leave school in those days?

2.     What kinds of job did most Tony’s friends find?

3.     How old was Tony when he left school?

4.     Upon leaving school, what job did Tony find eventually?

5.     Where did Tony’s mother first meet his father?
6.  How many members are there in his family? 
7,  How was his family's economic situation? 

English Literature Learning: The Piano "Chapter 1: In the Dressing Room"

Chapter 1: In the Dressing Room (Summary)

There was Sir. Anthony’s eightieth birthday concert. Mr. Anthony was a great pianist who came from a very poor family. Hundred of people wanted to see his concert. They are waiting outside the cinema. Before the concert, Sally Hill, who was a journalist from the Sunday Times, interviewed him. The interview was about how Mr. Anthony became a great pianist. During the interview, Mr. Anthony told his background and the story to the journalist. This is the beginning of the story.  

Answer the questions below: 

1. Who was Sally Hill?

2. How did she feel before she met Mr. Anthony?

3. How old was Mr. Anthony when he first touched a piano?

4. Why did Sally Hill have a special ticket to the concert?

5. Describe Anthony’s appearance in the dressing room.

6. What questions did the journalist ask Mr. Anthony during the interview?

7. Did Mr. Anthony have a nick name in those days? If yes, what was it?

8. Who was standing in the corner of the dressing room?  

9. What do you think the lady standing in the corner was to Mr. Anthony? 

10. Was she his personal assistant, wife, daughter or what?