Chapter twoA few years later
Old Jehan Daas became very weak.
It was impossible for him to go out with the cart anymore.1
So little Nello collected money at the markets.
Key Words
impossible (adj): không thể
anymore (adv): nữa
collect (v): đi lấy, thu gom
honestly (adv): ngay thẳng, thật thà
be happy to + V (v): vui vẻ, hài lòng do
business with (v): làm việc với
fine (adj): tốt bụng, ngoan ngoãn
hardworking (adj): chăm chỉ
shake off (v): giũ bỏ, thoát ra khỏi
(shake - shook - shaken)
with delight : với sự thích thú
simple (adj): đạm bạc
meal (n): bữa ăn
funny (adj): hài hước, vui nhộn
have fun (v): vui đùa, vui vẻ
He worked hard and honestly.
The farmers were happy to do business with such a fine, hardworking boy.2
In the afternoon, the two came back home. Patrasche would shake off his harness and bark with delight.
Nello would talk to his grandfather about the day’s business.
They would all eat their simple meals together. Old Jehan Daas would tell funny stories about the days when he was a soldier.3
They would all laugh and have fun.
Key Sentences
1 It was impossible for him to go out with the cart anymore.
2 The farmers were happy to do business with such a fine, hardworking boy.
3 Old Jehan Daas would tell funny stories about the days when he was a soldier.
Many years passed and they were still happy. Flanders is not a beautiful place.
There is not much to see besides cornfields and farms.1
However, its simple beauty is enough to be enjoyed by a boy and his dog.2
These two couldn’t imagine a more beautiful place in the world.3
Key Words & Sentences
pass (v): trôi qua
still (adv): vẫn
besides (prep): ngoài ra
imagine (v): tưởng tượng, hình dung
hard (adj): khó khăn, vất vả
wintertime (n): mùa đông
complain (v): than phiền, kêu ca
mind (v): bận tâm, để ý
1 There is not much to see besides cornfields and farms.
2 However, its simple beauty is enough to be enjoyed by a boy and his dog.
3 These two couldn’t imagine a more beautiful place in the world.
It’s true that life was harder in the wintertime.4
But they never complained about being cold.
Their simple hut was warm enough. They didn’t mind that they were poor.5
They had each other and that was enough.
Check up
Choose the sentence that best summarizes the text.
a. They had each other and that was enough.
b. Their simple hut was too cold to live in.
c. Being cold made them miserable.
4 It’s true that life was harder in the wintertime.
5 They didn’t mind that they were poor.
There was only one thing that Patrasche didn’t like.1
Antwerp is a city full of old churches. Everywhere you looked in Antwerp, you could see a church.2
Inside the churches, you could find the masterpieces of Rubens. Rubens was a great artist, a great master.
He was the only person whom the local people worshipped.
Key Words & Sentences
everywhere (adv): khắp nơi
masterpiece (n): kiệt tác master (n): bậc thầy
local (adj): (thuộc) địa phương
worship (v): ngưỡng mộ
trouble (n): điều rắc rối, phiền muộn
as well: cũng
disappear (v): biến mất
Now, the trouble with Patrasche was this: Nello worshipped Rubens as well.
The little boy would often disappear into the churches.3
The poor dog had to wait outside in the cold.
When the little boy came back, he always seemed very sad.
“If only I could see them, Patrasche!”4 he would say.
What were “they”? Patrasche had no idea.
Check up
Why did Nello look sad whenever he walked out of the church?
a. Because of the beauty of Rubens’s paintings.
b. He wanted to meet Rubens but couldn’t.
c. He wanted to see Rubens’s paintings but couldn’t.
3 The little boy would often disappear into the churches.
4 If only I could see them!
They were two large covered paintings at a church. The little boy was crying.
“It is so terrible that I can’t see those paintings.1
Just because I’m poor and I can’t pay!2
Rubens painted those for everyone to see.3
Not just for the rich.”
Key Words & Sentences
covered (p.p): bị che phủ
painting (n): bức tranh
terrible (adj): tệ
pay (v): chi trả (tiền) (pay - paid - paid)
the rich (the + adj) (n): những người giàu có
silver coin (n): đồng bạc
in order to + V: để, để mà
save (v): dành dụm, tiết kiệm
passionately (adv): say đắm, sâu sắc
through (prep): dọc, khắp
be amazed by: bị cuốn hút bởi
notice (v): nhận thấy, để ý
He couldn’t see them and Patrasche couldn’t help him. People had to pay a silver coin in order to see them.4
That was more money than Nello could save in a month.
Little Nello loved art passionately.
When the little boy walked through the town, he was amazed by the beauty he saw.5
He would look at a simple church or a windmill and notice its beauty.
3 Rubens painted those for everyone to see.
4 People had to pay a silver coin in order to see them.
5 When the little boy walked through the town, he was amazed by the beauty he saw.
Although Nello had never gone to school, he was nonetheless a very smart child.
No one had taught him how to read. No one had taught him how to draw.
In fact, no one had taught him anything.1
He had what people call “genius.”2
No one knew it.
He didn’t even know it himself.3
Only Patrasche had an idea.
That big, smart old dog noticed the boy drawing on stones.
He often watched Nello’s face brighten when he saw a wonderful sunset.4
Key Words
nonetheless (adv): tuy vậy
no one (pronoun): không có ai
how to: cách, phương pháp draw (v): vẽ (draw - drew - drawn)
in fact: thực ra
have an idea: nảy ra ý tưởng
what people call: cái mà người ta gọi là
genius (n): thiên tài
brighten (v): rạng ngời, bừng sáng
sunset (n): cảnh mặt trời lặn
Check up
What does it mean by “an idea” in “Only Patrasche had an idea.”
Key Sentences
1 In fact, no one had taught him anything.
2 He had what people call “genius.”
3 He didn’t even know it himself.
4 He often watched Nello’s face brighten when he saw a wonderful sunset.
The boy secretly wished to become a great artist.1
He never told any person this, however. And Jehan Daas had other ideas for him.
Key Words
secretly (adv): âm thầm, âm ỉ
wish (v): ước ao
grandson (n): cháu trai
success (n): sự thành công, sự hãnh diện
not… at all: không… chút nào
break one’s heart (v): làm ai buồn lòng
whisper (v): nói thầm, thầm thì
dream (n): giấc mơ
understand (v): hiểu (understand - understood - understood)
keep it a secret (v): giữ bí mật (keep - kept - kept)
He wanted his little grandson to become a farmer. He felt that all men should become simple farmers. To the old man, becoming a farmer was the greatest success in the world.2
However, Nello didn’t want to become a farmer at all. He couldn’t tell the old man that.
It would break his heart. Sometimes in the evenings, Nello would whisper about his dreams into Patrasche’s ears.3
Patrasche was the only one that would understand him.4
No one else would.
So he and Patrasche kept it a secret.
Check up
Who was the only one Nello shared his secrets with?
a. His grandfather
b. Patrasche
c. No one
Key Sentences
1 The boy secretly wished to become a great artist.
2 To the old man, becoming a farmer was the greatest success in the world.
3 Nello would whisper about his dreams into Patrasche’s ears.
4 Patrasche was the only one that would understand him.
Chapter Two: Comprehension Quiz
A. Fill in the blank with the right word using the given letters.
1. Nello was such an (n, h, e, t, o, s) boy. ⇒______
2. Nello would often (p, p, a, d, s, r, i, a, e) into the churches. ⇒______
3. Nello and Patrasche couldn’t (a, i, g, e, m, n, i) a more beautiful place than Flanders. ⇒______
4. Life was harder in the wintertime, but their simple hut was warm (g, e, o, n, h, u). ⇒______
B. Based on the story, mark ‘T’ if true or ‘F’ if false.
1. Only Patrasche knew about Nello’s dreams. T...F
2. Nello and Patrasche hated the fact that they were poor. T...F
3. Nello did a good job at school. T...F
C. Who is ‘He’? Write down the names of the characters.
1. He became very weak. It was impossible for him to pull the cart anymore.
2. When he came out of the church, he always looked very sad.
3. He was the only person whom people in Antwerp worshipped.
D. which is the best to complete the sentences?
1. Nello couldn’t see the Rubens paintings because
(a) his eyes were very weak.
(b) the church doors were always closed.
(c) he couldn’t pay to see them.
2. Jehan Daas wanted Nello to be a farmer because
(a) he felt a farmer was a successful job.
(b) Nello was good at farming.
(c) a farmer could earn more money than a soldier.
Neelllo ttrriies tto drraaw everything aarrround hiim. He onlly haass rrough paper aannd ccooal tto drraw wiittth but hiis drraawings aarre morre brriiilllllliiiantt tthan anybody eellse’s.
All Verbs, Over Here!
Let’s go over the list of major verbs from “A Dog of Flanders.”
