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Question 1 - Listening and Speaking
1. Read the following story and answer the questions that follow:
The Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant
She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as if by an error of fate, into a family of clerks.
She had no dowry, no expectations, no means of becoming known, understood, loved or wedded by a
man of wealth and distinction; and so, she let herself be married to a minor official at the Ministry of
Education.
One evening, her husband came home with an air of triumph, holding a large envelope in his hand.
"Look," he said, "here's something for you."
She tore open the paper and drew out a card, on which was printed the words:
"The Minister of Education and Mme. Georges Rampouneau request the pleasure of M. and Mme.
Loisel's company at the Ministry, on the evening of Monday January 18th."
Instead of being delighted, as her husband had hoped, she threw the invitation on the table, resentfully,
and muttered:
"What do you want me to do with that?"
"But, my dear, I thought you would be pleased. You never go out, and it will be such a lovely
occasion! I had awful trouble getting it. Everyone wants to go; it is very exclusive, and they're not
giving many invitations to clerks. The whole ministry will be there."
He stopped, stunned, distressed to see his wife crying. Two large tears ran slowly from the corners of
her eyes towards the corners of her mouth. He stuttered:
"What's the matter? What's the matter?"
With great effort she overcame her grief and replied in a calm voice, as she wiped her wet cheeks:
"Nothing. Only I have no dress and so I can't go to this party. Give your invitation to a friend whose
wife has better clothes than I do."
However, he said:
"Very well, I can give you four hundred francs. But try and get a really beautiful dress." The day of the
party drew near, and Madame Loisel seemed sad, restless and anxious.