Mrs Bixby Colonels coat

and

the

If Mr. Bixby werent a dentist who made an average income, Mrs. Bixby wouldnt stay with him. Mrs. Bixby used to travel to Baltimore. Thats why she met the Colonel there. If the Colonel hadnt wanted to break up with her, she wouldnt have been given the present.

What are the characters of the story like? Describe each of them (avoid the repetition of adjectives) and justify your answers. Use Indirect Voice to show attitude of the speakers: the

Mr. Bixby: Just as long as you dont expect me to accompany you. Mrs. Bixby: Of course not darling. After all, shes my aunt, not yours. The pawn broker: Youd better not lose this ticket, then. Mrs. Bixby: Dont work too hard, darling. Mrs. Bixby: Ill give it to you for Christmas Give Mrs. Bixby a piece of advice for each situation using different structures in order... a) ... to recover the Colonel. b) ... to keep the coat for herself from the very beginning. c) ... to recover the coat herself from the pawn shop. d) ... not to lose control at the end of the story. e) ... to recover her husband. Rewrite the following using unless: sentences

Mrs. Bixby went to the pawn shop since she wanted to get rid of the coat. Mr. Bixbys lover was his secretary. Therefore, she received the Colonels present in the end. What would have happened if... ... Mrs. Bixby had told her husband that the mink coat was a present from her aunt?

... Mrs. Bixby herself would have gone to the pawn brokers? ... Mr. Bixby had discovered that his wife had a lover in Baltimore? ... Mrs. Bixby had known about the relationship between her husband and his secretary? ... Mrs. Bixby had reacted against her husbands secretary at the end of the story? What would you do if you were in Mrs. Bixbys shoes... ... knowing that she dislikes her husband but enjoys being with the Colonel?

... when shes given the parting present? ... when she realizes that she cannot turn up home with such an expensive gift? ... when she necklace? receives the

If you dont love your partner... If a woman husband... cheats on her

If a man cheats on her wife... If a man gives a woman an expensive present... If a woman receives an expensive present from her lover...

... when she sees Mrs. Pulteney wearing her mink coat? Whats the theme of the story? How would you describe the relationship between the Bixbys? In what ways were the Colonel and Mr. Bixby different from each other? Why didnt Mr. Bixby complain about his wifes monthly journeys to Baltimore? How do her feelings change towards the Colonel along the story? What about her impression about Mr Bixbys secretary? Who wins in the end and why? Do you agree with the characters attitudes in each of the situations? Justify your answer. Do you consider that the story has a moral lesson? Which one? Account for your answer. Make 3 (three) predictions with different degrees of certainty about the future life of the characters considering the events in the narrative. Complete the ideas with 3 (three) connected sentences:

GLOSSARY (Useful vocabulary you are expected to use when retelling the story) Remember to highlight the new words earned: got as a salary (ganaba) average: around the middle of a scale of evaluation (promedio) she would get on: she used to take (se suba a, tomaba) known as: famous for being (conocido como) wealthy: rich (adinerado, rico) charming: pleasing, delighting (encantadora) loyal: faithful (leales, fieles) he amused himself: he occupied, he had fun(se entretena) hunting: pursuing wild animals for sport(cazando) continued: went on (continu, prosigui) never once did Mrs. Bixby's dentist husband suspect: emphatic use of auxiliar DID (ni una sola vez sospech el esposo dentista de la Sra. Bixby) thoroughly: perfectly (perfecta, impecable) dull: boring (aburrido, poco interesante) appeared = turned up (apareci) in private: privately (a solas, en privado) it might even be: it could also be (incluso podran ser) underclothes: underwear (ropa ntima) I won't look = I don't want to look (no quiero mirar, me niego a mirar) what it looks like: how nice it is (cmo es, de qu se trata) how much it cost = what its price was (cunto cost, cul fue su precio) mink coat: fur coat made from the soft lustrous fur of minks (abrigo de visones) hardly dared: didn't almost act (apenas se atreva a)

a farewell note = a farewell letter (una carta de despedida) how fond she was of mink: how much she liked mink (cunto le atraa el visn) she couldn't possibly give me this: there's no possibility of her giving this to me (no existe la ms remota posibilidad de que ella me regalara esto) trying it on: putting it on to see how well it fitted (probarlo) walked in: went inside her house (entrara) on purpose just to annoy me: with the intention of annoying me (a propsito para incomodarme) sit still: sit relaxed (reljate) you've fooled him before: you've cheated him before (lo has engaado antes) stepped off: went down (baj, descendi) exit: opening to leave or to go out (salida) signaled for: made signs to (llam, hizo seas a) pawnbroker: a person who lends money at interest in exchange for personal property that is deposited as security (prestamista) made up = invented (invent) purse: handbag (cartera de mujer) pawn-ticket: a pawnbroker's receipt for articles taken as security (boleta o recibo de empeo) was not about to let that happen: was not going to allow it (no iba a permitir que eso ocurriera) ingenious: clever, cunning (hbil, ingenioso) if it were: WERE used instead of WAS for hypothetical situations (si fuera) I'll go over = I'll go there (ir hasta all) find out: investigate (averiguar) I'll pick it up: I'll fetch it (ir a buscarlo) you didn't handle: you didn't deal with (que no te ocuparas) Is that agreed? = Do we both agree? (Estamos de acuerdo?) it turned out to be: if it really was (si resultara ser) rushed = hurried (se apur, corri) you'll faint: you'll pass out (te vas a desmayar) though = although (aunque) pawned: deposited as security (empeado) you'll go crazy: you'll get mad (vas a enloquecer) insisted on going down: insisted on going to his office (insisti en ir al consultorio) INSIST ON > ING verb we're through for now: we have finished our work for the moment being (hemos terminado por el momento) walked over to: walked towards (se dirigi hacia) I don't dare to: I'm not courageous enough to (no me atrevo) fur neckpiece: a garment like a boa or a scarf,

especially one made of fur (boa o bufanda de piel) to scream = to shout (a gritar) it quite took your breath away: you were unable to speak (te quit la respiracin) try it on: check whether it fits you (prubalo) it really suits you: it really looks nice on you (realmente te queda bien) it isn't everyone who has = not everybody has (no todo el mundo tiene) loudly: with a bang (de un portazo) came sailing past her: came past her with pride (pas orgullosa a su lado) queen: sovereign (reina) Task analysis:
Did you enjoy the story? Why? Why not? Was it difficult to follow the sequence of events? How many words did you look up in the dictionary? Can you remember them? How did you find this activity after reading the story?