Chapter fourHope
Nello had a secret that only Patrasche knew about.
There was an empty hut near his home.
In this hut, Nello had drawn many sketches. Nello couldn’t buy any colors but he found some charcoal and chalk, and some rough paper.
He could draw anything in black and white and still make it look beautiful.1
Key Words
sketch (n): bức vẽ
color (n): màu vẽ
charcoal (n): chì than
chalk (n): phấn
rough (adj): nhám, xù xì, ráp (giấy)
in black and white: màu trắng đen
contest (n): cuộc thi
franc (n): đồng Frăng (đơn vị tiền tệ của Pháp)
first-prize (n): giải nhất
winner (n): người thắng cuộc
enter (v): tham gia (cuộc thi)
opportunity (n): cơ hội
improve (v): nâng cao, hoàn thiện
indeed (adv): thực sự
lie down (v): nằm xuống
(lie - lay - lain)
Nello heard of a drawing contest. Two hundred francs would be given to the first-prize winner.2
Anybody under the age of eighteen could enter.3
Nello believed that this was his opportunity to improve himself.4
So he began to work very hard, indeed. Every evening, Patrasche would come into the hut and lie down.
He watched Nello work hard at drawing.
Key Sentences
1 He could draw anything in black and white and still make it look beautiful.
2 Two hundred francs would be given to the first-prize winner.
3 Anybody under the age of eighteen could enter.
4 Nello believed that this was his opportunity to improve himself.
All spring, summer and autumn, Nello worked on this drawing. He said nothing to anyone.
His grandfather would not understand. The drawings were due on the first of December.1
The winner would be announced on the twenty-fourth of that same month.2
On the morning of the first, Nello loaded his drawing onto the cart.
He left his work at the door of the city hall, as instructed.3
Key Words & Sentences
work on (v): miệt mài, nỗ lực
due (adj): hết hạn
announce (v): thông báo, công bố
load (v): chất lên, đặt lên
onto (prep): lên trên
city hall (n): tòa thị chính thành phố
as instructed: như đã được hướng dẫn
learn (v): học
doubt (n): sự hồ nghi, ngờ vực
1 The drawings were due on the first of December.
2 The winner would be announced on the twenty-fourth of that same month.
“Maybe it’s a terrible drawing,”4 he thought. I’ve never learned anything about art.”5
Nello walked home that day with many doubts.6
Check up
On which date did Nello hand in the drawing?
3 He left his work at the door of the city hall, as instructed.
4 Maybe it’s a terrible drawing.
5 I’ve never learned anything about art.
6 Nello walked home that day with many doubts.
The winter was very bitter.
Pulling the milk cart was very hard work. Patrasche often slipped on the icy roads.1
Patrasche had become an old dog.
One day, Nello and Patrasche found a pretty puppet in the snow.
Nello tried to find its owner, but no one was around.2
“This is a good present for Alois,” he thought.
Key Words
bitter (adj): rét buốt (thời tiết)
slip (v): trượt chân (slip - slipped - slipped)
icy (adj): đóng băng
puppet (n): con rối
owner (n): chủ nhân
present (n): món quà
quietly (adv): yên lặng, khẽ khàng
climb up (v): leo lên
knock (v): gõ
thank (v): cám ơn
He quietly climbed up to her window and knocked on it.
Alois opened the window. “Here is a doll I found in the snow,” said Nello. “Take it.” With that, he went away quickly.3
Alois didn’t even have a chance to thank him.4
Key Sentences
1 Patrasche often slipped on the icy roads.
2 Nello tried to find its owner, but no one was around.
3 With that, he went away quickly.
4 Alois didn’t even have a chance to thank him.
That night, there was a big fire at the mill.
All the people in the village came out to put out the fire.1
The miller was furious. “This fire was not an accident!” he yelled. “Somebody set this fire on purpose!2
And he’ll pay for it!”
Nello ran to the fire. He wanted to help.
When he arrived at the mill, Baas Cogez yelled at him.
Key Words
fire (n): đám cháy, hỏa hoạn
put out (v): dập tắt
(put - put - put)
furious (adj): giận dữ
accident (n): tai nạn
yell (v): hét lên
set fire (v): đốt lửa, gây hỏa hoạn
(set - set - set)
on purpose: cố tình, cố ý
pay for (v): trả giá
arrive (v): tới nơi
hang around (v): lảng vảng
(hang - hung - hung)
not… ever (= never): không bao giờ
rumor (n): tin đồn
for revenge: để trả thù
“You! Nello!
You know something about this fire, don’t you?3
I saw you hanging around here earlier today.4
I believe that you set this fire.
I don’t want to see you ever again!”
From that day on, there was a rumor in the village that Nello had started the fire.5
Many people thought that the boy was angry with Baas Cogez.
And they believed that he had started the fire for revenge.
Check up
From the text, find the antonym of “set the fire.”
Key Sentences
1 All the people in the village came out to put out the fire.
2 Somebody set this fire on purpose!
3 You know something about this fire, don’t you?
4 I saw you hanging around here earlier today.
5 From that day on, there was a rumor in the village that Nello had started the fire.
The farmers didn’t give Nello their milk anymore. The times were very difficult for Nello and his family. They could no longer earn money to buy food.1
They became very hungry.
And the winter was very cold.
Key Words
difficult (adj): khó khăn
earn (v): kiếm (tiền)
if only: giá như
feel sorry about: cảm thấy hối tiếc về
(feel - felt - felt)
mean (adj): tàn nhẫn
still (adv): tuy nhiên
try + V (v): cố gắng
(try - tried - tried)
neighbor (n): hàng xóm, láng giềng
make mistakes: phạm phải sai lầm
forgive (v): tha thứ
(forgive - forgave - forgiven)
For Nello, the only thing that gave him hope was the drawing contest.2
He thought, “If only I could win,
then they’d feel sorry about being so mean to me!”3
Still, Nello tried to understand his neighbors. “Sometimes, people make mistakes.
I should forgive them,” he thought.
Old Jehan Daas became quite weak that winter.
Key Sentences
1 They could no longer earn money to buy food.
2 For Nello, the only thing that gave him hope was the drawing contest.
3 If only I could win, then they’d feel sorry about being so mean to me!
Chapter Four: Comprehension Quiz
A. Fill in the blanks with the right words.
puppet
opportunity
revenge
1. Nello believed that the drawing contest was his____to improve himself.
2. One day, Nello and Patrasche found a____in the snow.
3. People thought that Nello had started the fire for ____.
B. Complete the following sentences with given words.
1. All the people came out (to / fire / put / out / the).
2. (only / the / thing / that) gave Nello hope was the drawing contest.
3. Nello thought, “People would feel sorry about (so / to / mean / being / me).”
C. Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
1. What is not true about the drawing contest?
(a) Only rich people could enter it.
(b) Two hundred francs would be given to the winner.
(c) The drawings were due on the first of December.
2. Why did Nello run to the fire?
(a) Because he wanted to rescue Alois.
(b) Because he wanted to help put out the fire.
(c) Because he wanted to comfort Baas Cogez.
3. Where did Nello draw many pictures?
(a) On the fields.
(b) In the churches.
(c) In an empty hut.
D. Underline the words that do not match with the story.
1. The winner would be announced on Christmas day.
2. Pulling the cart was still easy for Patrasche.
3. It was true that Nello had started the fire.
4. After the fire, people were very nice to Nello.