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Question
Think and answer:
Why were the old men of the village attending school that day?
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Solution
- The elderly men of the village regretted not having attended school during their lifetime.
- They also wished to express their gratitude to M. Hamel for his forty years of selfless service and to show their respect for their country, which no longer belonged to them. Therefore, they were present at the school that day.
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Languages you know |
Home language |
Neighbourhood language |
City/Town language |
School language |
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| Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was. |
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