LOMOV: Never mind about my people! The Lomovs have all been honourable people, and not one has ever been tried for embezzlement, like your grandfather! CHUBUKOV: You Lomovs have had lunacy in your family, all of you! NATALYA: All, all, all! CHUBUKOV: Your grandfather was a drunkard, and your younger aunt, Nastasya Mihailovna, ran away with an architect, and so on... LOMOV: And your mother was hump-backed. [Clutches at his heart] Something pulling in my side... My head.... Help! Water! CHUBUKOV: Your father was a guzzling gambler! i. Choose the option that correctly identifies the tone of the characters in the given extract. 1) antagonism 2) humour 3) contempt 4) irony a) (1) and (2) b) (2) and (4) c) (1) and (3) d) (3) and (4) ii. The playwright’s intention in the given extract is to a) throw light upon the weaknesses of the rich in any society. b) emphasize that family history is important in a marriage proposal. c) satirise the superficiality of the upper class in Russian society. d) send a message that ego is not healthy in any relationship. iii. If according to Chubukov and Natalya, Lomovs are not “honourable people”, why do they still consider Lomov’s proposal? a) Natalya can take care of her father if she marries close by. b) They were exaggerating in the argument and didn’t mean it. c) They understand that honour is superficial and overrated.d) Lomov’s status in society supersedes everything. iv. Imagine you found the playwright’s notes for each scene in the play and noticed that some of the words were missing. Choose the option that fills the missing words most appropriately. A conversation that starts pleasantly quickly turns into a (i) ________ argument. With (ii) _________ of Oxen Meadows at the heart of the matter, Lomov and Natalya quarrel and are later joined by Chubukov. Thus, begins a (iii) ____ of insults, accusations and name-calling. All (iv) _______ disappears. Eventually, Lomov leaves clutching at his heart, his foot numb. a) (i) petty ; (ii) history ; (iii) series; (iv) politeness b) (i) vicious ; (ii) ownership ; (iii) circus ; (iv) civility c) (i) curious ; (ii) land ; (iii) outpouring ; (iv) laughter d) (i) ugly ; (ii) neighbourhood ; (iii) barrage; (iv) goodness v Which of the following options comes closest to the meaning of ‘tried’ as used in the extract? a) She mastered the game through a process of trial and error. b) He followed the trial closely and was seen in court every day. c) This had been a tried and tested formula for the organisation. d) They tried with all their might to repeat their earlier successes.