178- ] English Literature

179- ] English Literature

Walter Scott – Summary 

Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, August 15, 1771. His father was a farmer and his mother, Anne Rutherford, was the daughter of Dr. John Rutherford, who was one of the founders of the medical school of Edinburgh. Mrs. Scott was fond of poetry and anecdotes and it was from her that Walter received inspiration.

Walter was one of ten children. The other children's only claim to fame was that they had, "good health and untamable spirits." In contrast, Walter was afflicted at twenty-one months with something which a biographer describes as, "a paralytic affection, superinduced, or at least aggravated by scrofulous habit of body." It is, sufficient to say that it made him lame and doubtless pushed him into more academic pursuits.

He spent much time with his grandparents, but it was "Aunt Jenny" who took a special interest in him and influenced him to write. His visits to an uncle, Dr. Rutherford, professor of botany at the University of Edinburgh, brought him into contact with scholarly people.

His parents were very religious and imposed strict piety upon all their children. Walter was never very deeply affected religiously, however. His works, which contain much about the church, seek neither to elevate nor to censure it, but rather to depict it, for it was history and not philosophy that interested him most.

His first novel, Waverly, was published anonymously. Although Scott probably never intended that "Laurence Templeton" should be taken as a real person, he was attempting to remain in anonymity by the use of the name. His publishers persuaded him to allow further novels to be designated as "by the author of Waverly," and for this reason some of his novels were called the "Waverly Novels." Although he published biographies of Swift and Dryden and some history, as well as poems and novels, his chief claim to distinction is his contribution to Romanticism and the historical novel.

He suffered from many physical ailments, one particularly serious one in adolescence, which made him, in his own words, "a glutton of books." Scott became seriously ill before Ivanhoe was finished and dictated much of it from his sickbed.

His popularity, both socially and as a writer, was almost unparalleled. He was married in 1797 to Margaret Charlotte Carpenter, who bore him three sons and two daughters. Scott received his title and baronetcy from King George IV in the spring of 1820. He died, Sir Walter Scott, in 1832.

  

Comprehension , Upper Intermediate , Advanced [ 2 ]

2 - ] Comprehension  

2 - ] Upper Intermediate , Advanced 

2 . ] Read the newspaper article , then answer the questions below :

                A lot of advice is available for college leavers heading for their first job . In this article we consider the move to a second job . We are not concerned with those looking for a second temporary position while hunting for a permanent job . Nor are we concerned with those leaving an unsatisfactory job within the first few weeks . Instead , we will be dealing with those of you taking a real step on the career ladder , choosing a job to fit in with your ambitions now that you have learnt your way around , acquired some skills and have some idea of where you want to go .

                  What sort of job should you look for ? Much depends on your long-term aim . You need to ask yourself whether you want to specialize in a particular field , work your way up to higher levels of responsibility or out of your current employment into a broader field .

                    Whatever you decide , you should choose your second job very carefully . You should be aiming to stay in it for two to three years .

                    This job will be studied very carefully when you send your letter of application for your next job . It should show evidence of serious career planning . Most important , it should extend you , develop you and give you increasing responsibility . Incidentally , if the travel bug is biting , now is the time to pack up and go . You can do temporary work for a while when you return , pick up where you left off and get the second job then . Future potential employers will be relieved to see that you have got it out of your system , and are not likely to go off again .

                     Juliette Davidson spent her first year after leaving St. Aldate’s College working for three solicitors . It was the perfect first job in that ‘OK --- they were very supportive people > I was gently introduced to the work , learnt my way round an office and improved my word processing skills . However , there was no scope for advancement . One day I gave in my notice , bought an air ticket and traveled for a year’ .

                     Juliette now works as a Personal Assistant to Brenda Cleverdon , the Chirf Executive of a Business in the Community . ‘In two and a half years I have become more able and my job has really grown’ , she says . ‘Right from the beginning my boss was very keen to develop me . My job title is the same as it was when I started but the duties have changed . From mainly typing and telephone work , I have progressed to doing most of the correspondence and budgets . I also have to deal with a variety of queries , coming from chairmen of large companies to people wanting to know how to start their own business . Brenda involves me in all her work but also gives me specific projects to do and events to organize’ .

1 . Who is intended to benefit from the advice given in the article ?

( A ) students who have just finished their studies

( B ) people who are unhappy with their current job

( C ) those who are interested in establishing a career

( D ) people who change jobs regularly

2 . According to the writer , why is the choice of your second job important ?

( A ) It will affect your future job prospects .

( B ) It will last longer than your first job .

( C ) It will be difficult to change if you don’t like it .

( D ) It should give you the opportunity to study .

3 . ‘it’ in paragraph four refers to

( A ) first job .

( B ) second job .

( C ) application .

( D ) career .

4 . If you have a desire to travel , when does the writer suggest that you do it ?

( A ) straight after you have left college

( B ) when you are unable to find a permanent job

( C ) after you have done some temporary work

( D ) between the first and second job

5 . What is meant by ‘you have got it out of your system in paragraph four ?

( A ) You have planned your career sensibly .

( B ) You are an experienced traveler .

( C ) You have satisfied your wish to travel .

( D ) You have learned to look after yourself .

6 . How did Juliette Davidson benefit from the experience of her first job ?

( A ) It was a good introduction to working in an office .

( B ) She met a variety of interesting people .

( C ) It enabled her to earn enough money to travel .

( D ) She learnt how to use a word processor .

7 . In what way is Juliette’s current job better than her first job ?

( A ) She has a more impressive job title .

( B ) She now knows how to start her own business .

( C ) She has been able to extend her skills .

( D ) She is more involved in the community .

Answer Key

1. C 2. A 3 . B 4 . D 5 . C 6 . A 7 . C