"A Request"

Passage from "The Secret Adversary"

 

It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915.  The Lusitania had been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were being lined up awaiting their turn… 

One girl stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her grave, steadfast eyes looked straight ahead.

"I beg your pardon."

A man's voice beside her made her start and turn. She had noticed the speaker more than once amongst the first-class passengers. There had been a hint of mystery about him which had appealed to her imagination.  He spoke to no one.  If anyone spoke to him he was quick to rebuff the overture. Also he had a nervous way of looking over his shoulder with a swift, suspicious glance.

She noticed now that he was greatly agitated. There were beads of perspiration on his brow. He was evidently in a state of overmastering fear. And yet he did not strike her as the kind of man who would be afraid to meet death!

"Yes?" Her grave eyes met his…

He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution.

"It must be!" he muttered to himself. "Yes—it is the only way." Then aloud he said abruptly: "You are an American?"

"Yes."

"A patriotic one?"

The girl flushed.

"I guess you've no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am!"

"Don't be offended. You wouldn't be if you knew how much there was at stake. But I've got to trust some one—and it must be a woman."

"Why?"

"Because of 'women and children first.'" He looked round and lowered his voice. "I'm carrying papers—vitally important papers. They may make all the difference to the Allies in the war. You understand? These papers have GOT to be saved! They've more chance with you than with me. Will you take them?"

The girl held out her hand.

"Wait—I must warn you. There may be a risk—if I've been followed. I don't think I have, but one never knows. If so, there will be danger. Have you the nerve to go through with it?"

The girl smiled.

"I'll go through with it all right.”

 

Reading Comprehension Questions

 

1)     In the above passage, the man was looking for a special person to make his request.  Which of the following is NOT a characteristic that the man was looking for in the person?

a.      the person had to be a woman

b.      the person had to be patriotic

c.      the person had to be American

d.      the person had to be wealthy

 

2)     The above passage is an opening scene of the novel.  Which of the following is most likely critical to the plotline of the novel?

a.      the age of the girl who is approached by the man

b.      the subject of the papers the man gives the girl

c.      the final destination of the Lusitania before it sank

d.      the hometown where the girl began her journey

 

3)     In the above passage, the girl would describe the man who approaches her as which of the following?

a.      cheerful

b.      angry

c.      secretive

d.      cowardly

 

4)     At the end of the above passage, which of the following best describes the girl’s reaction to the task she’s been given?

a.      she is up to the task

b.      she is panic-stricken

c.      she thinks it is a joke

d.      she is angry at the request

 

5)     In the above passage, it says the man looked at the girl with a “desperate irresolution.”  Based on the context, what is meant by these words?

a.      He was unsure of himself for a moment.

b.      He was confident that everything would be okay.

c.      He was angry at the girl for not helping.

d.      He was worried the girl knew too much.

 

6)     Based on the context, what world wide event is going on when the scene in the above passage takes place?

a.      the Olympic Games

b.      a World War

c.      a United Nations meeting

d.      an Economic Depression

 

 

Answer Key

1)     In the above passage, the man was looking for a special person to make his request.  Which of the following is NOT a characteristic that the man was looking for in the person?

a.      the person had to be a woman

b.      the person had to be patriotic

c.      the person had to be American

d.     the person had to be wealthy

 

2)     The above passage is an opening scene of the novel.  Which of the following is most likely critical to the plotline of the novel?

a.      the age of the girl who is approached by the man

b.     the subject of the papers the man gives the girl

c.      the final destination of the Lusitania before it sank

d.      the hometown where the girl began her journey

 

3)     In the above passage, the girl would describe the man who approaches her as which of the following?

a.      cheerful

b.      angry

c.      secretive

d.      cowardly

 

4)     At the end of the above passage, which of the following best describes the girl’s reaction to the task she’s been given?

a.      she is up to the task

b.      she is panic-stricken

c.      she thinks it is a joke

d.      she is angry at the request

 

5)     In the above passage, it says the man looked at the girl with a “desperate irresolution.”  Based on the context, what is meant by these words?

a.      He was unsure of himself for a moment.

b.      He was confident that everything would be okay.

c.      He was angry at the girl for not helping.

d.      He was worried the girl knew too much.

 

6)     Based on the context, what world wide event is going on when the scene in the above passage takes place?

a.      the Olympic Games

b.     a World War

c.      a United Nations meeting

d.      an Economic Depression