Up the Mountain
by Johanna Spyri (Cambridge Connection English)
Comprehension
A. Write true or false.
1. Heidi and her aunt lived in the mountains. [F]
2. Heidi's grandfather lived in the mountains. [T]
3. Heidi's aunt was a kind-hearted woman. [T]
4. Heidi was tired walking uphill. [T]
5. Heidi did not like the walk uphill. [F]
B. Answer the questions.
1. How was the child dressed? Why was she dressed in this manner?
= The child had on two dresses, one above the other, over these a red woollen shawl, and on her feet were thick mountain-shoes.
She had been made to put on all her clothes in order to save the trouble of carrying them.
2. What made her take off all her clothes except her undergarment?
= It was very tough for her to go up the hill. She was laboriously plodding her way up in the heat. The heat and the weight of her clothes exhausted her. She looked at the goatherd clad in nothing but a pair of shorts. That made her take off all her clothes except her undergarment.
3. How did her aunt react when she saw the child in her undergarment?
= Her aunt cried out in high pitched voice and asked where her clothes had gone.
4. Why did Peter, the goatherd, go down to fetch the clothes?
= Peter, the goatherd, went down to fetch the clothes because Dete proposed him to give him a bright new coin after doing so.
5. Why had Dete brought Heidi to the Alm mountain?
= Dete had brought Heidi to the Alm mountain to leave Heidi to her Grandfather.
C. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. "Able now to move at her ease, she leapt and skipped almost as nimbly as the goats."
a. Who is she here?
= Here she is Heidi.
b. Why wasn't she able to move easily before? Why could she do so now?
= She wasn't able to move easily before due to the heat and the weight of her clothes. That exhausted her.
c. What does the above sentence tell us about the child?
= The above sentence tells us that the child is very sporty. She is playful and joyful.
2. "I have done my duty by her for these four years, and now it is time for you to do yours.'
a. Who said this and to whom? How had she done her duty?
= Dete said this to the Grandfather of Heidi.
She had done her duty by bringing up Heidi for four years after her mother left her to Dete.
b. What did the speaker expect the other person to do?
= The speaker expected the other person to take the responsibility of Heidi from that day on.
c. How did the listener react to this statement?
= The listener was apprehensive that Heidi might not want to stay with him. She might fret after Dete.
D. Think and answer.
1. What is your opinion about Dete? Give instances from the story to support your answer.
= I think Dete is a very responsible and protective woman. She is rough outside but has a very tender corner inside. She has brought up Heidi for four year after her mother left her to Dete. She took very care of Heidi. She bought good clothes for Heidi. She knitted her new stockings. She is intelligent. She knew how to convince Peter, the goatherd, to go down hill to fetch the clothes of Heidi and carry them to the house of Heidi's Grandfather's house. She is concerned about the wellness of Heidi. She will accuse Heidi's Grandfather if anything harm happens to Heidi in her absence. She was sad to leave Heidi at her Grandfather's house. Somehow she controlled herself with the thought that she would do something for the child when she would earn plenty of money.
2. What do you think about Heidi? Give reasons for your answer.
= I think Heidi is like any other child who are four years old. She is obedient to her aunt Dete. She was climbing up hill wearing all those clothes according to her will. She is intelligent too. She looked the goatherd and got the idea of taking off her clothes to get rid of heat and weight. She is very sporty. After putting off her clothes, she was climbing up the hill playfully after the goats.
3. Why do you think Heidi's grandfather became angry at Dete's words?
= I think Heidi's grandfather became angry at Dete's words because he is old. He might not take care of Heidi properly. She has grown up by the care of Dete. She is accustomed to her. She might fret after her. She might get scared or cry there at his house.
About the Author :
Johanna Spyri (1827-1901) was a Swiss author. Her book, Heidi, is popular all over the world. Her other works include Veronica and Other Friends. The Story of Rico, Moni the Goat-Boy and Erica and Sally. Her works were originally in German and later translated into English. The landscape of Switzerland is very vividly represented in her works.