Course: 2º secondary

Content: “Man from the South” ( by Roald Dahl)

ACTIVITIES
A) Before reading.
Work in pairs, discuss what “gambling” means and finally choose one of these options for
its definition:
a. Casual betting with friends.
b. An activity characterized by a balance between winning and losing that is governed
by a mixture of skill and chance.
c. Serious statistics.
d. An addictive teenage-problem.
Discussion:
Do you like to bet? Have you ever bet and won or lost? What? Comment on your
experience or somebody else´s experience you know.

B) After reading.
Match the following words in the box with the information given
below.

The girl--- the narrator--- Carlos--- the American--- lighter---

Cadillac--- a woman

1.------------------------ is a naval cadet.

2. ----------------------- has two rows of uneven teeth.
3.------------------------- is around sixty-eight or seventy.
4. ------------------------ has a packet of cigarettes and a lighter.
5. ------------------------ always works in the wind.
6.------------------------- wants to bet a dollar.
7.------------------------- had only one finger and a thumb.
8.------------------------- is wearing a pale blue bathing suit.
9.------------------------- is the referee.
10.----------------------- went to have her hair washed and left the old man alone.
11..---------------------- does not like the bet.
12.----------------------- has taken forty-seven fingers and lost eleven cars.
13. ---------------------- has no cars.
14. ----------------------won all from Carlos a long while ago.
 C) Complete the chart with descriptions about the following characters and places.

CHARACTERS/ PLACES DESCRIPTIONS

The garden of the hotel

The American boy

The old man

The girl

The woman
 D) Answer the following questions.

1. What does the bet consist of?

2. What are the three things the old man asks for the maid?

3. Is there any hint in the story that tells us the old man had cut other fingers before?

4. Why was Carlos in that hotel?

5. How important is the role of the narrator in the story?

6. Explain why “ambition” is one of the main themes in the story.

E) Writing.
Write a summary of the story (50-70 words).

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