A Lot to Learn

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES

Read the first six lines and guess

a. what the Materializer is;

b. who Ned Quinn is;

c. what Ned Quinn is going to do.

A LOT TO LEARN

R. T. KUROSAKA

The Materializer was completed. Ned Quinn stood back, wiped his hands, and admired the huge bank of dials, lights and switches. Several years and many fortunes had gone into this project. Finally it was ready. Ned placed the metal skullcap on his head and plugged the wires into the control panel.

Il Materializzatore era finito. Ned Quinn arretrò, si pulì le mani e ammirò l’enorme banco di quadranti, luci e interruttori. Diversi anni e molte fortune erano stati riversati in quel progetto. Finalmente era pronto. Ned si piazzò in testa l’elmetto di metallo e inserì i fili nel pannello di controllo.

WHILE-READING ACTIVITIES

1. Read to line 16. What does Ned Quinn order the machine to do?

2. Can you explain now why the machine is called Materializer?

3. Line 13 says that "He had a lot to learn". Why? What was wrong with ordering a "Martini"?

He turned the switch to ON and spoke: "Pound note".There was a whirring sound. In the Receiver a piece of paper appeared. Ned inspected it. Real. "Martini", he said. A whirring sound. A puddle formed in the Receiver. Ned cursed silently. He had a lot to learn. "A bottle of beer", he said. The whirring sound was followed by the appearance of the familiar brown bottle. Ned tasted the contents and grinned.

Girò l’interruttore su ON e parlò: “Una banconota.” Ci fu un ronzio. Nel ricevitore apparì un pezzo di carta. Ned la ispezionò. Autentica. “Martini,” disse. Un ronzio. Nel ricevitore si formò una pozza. Ned imprecò silenziosamente. Aveva molto da imparare. “Una bottiglia di birra,” disse. Il ronzio fu seguito dalla comparsa di una familiare bottiglia marrone. Ned ne assaggio il contenuto e sogghignò.

4. Read the following 3 lines.

Can you imagine what "his greatest experiment" would consist of? 

 

Chuckling, he experimented further. Ned enlarged the Receiver and prepared for his greatest experiment.

Ridacchiando, continuò a sperimentare. Ned ampliò il vano del ricevitore per preparare il suo più grande esperimento.

5. Read to line 23.

a. Was your guess right? 

 

He switched on the Materializer, took a deep breath and said: "Girl". The whirring sound swelled and faded. In the Receiver stood a lovely girl. She was naked. Ned had not asked for clothing.

Accese il materializzatore, tirò un profondo sospiro e disse: “Ragazza.” Il ronzio aumentò e poi svanì. Nel ricevitore c’era una bella ragazza. Era nuda. Ned non aveva chiesto i vestiti.

b. How do you imagine the girl in terms of hair, eyes, height, body, age, etc.?

6. Read line 24.

a. Was your guess right? If not, what is your reaction to the truth? 

 

She had freckles, a brace and pigtails. She was eight years old.

Aveva le lentiggini, un apparecchio per i denti e le treccine. Aveva otto anno.

7. What is Ned Quinn's reaction?

"Hell!", said Quinn. Whirr. The fireman found two charred skeletons in the smouldering rubble.

“All’inferno!” disse Quinn. Ronzio. I pompieri trovarono due scheletri carbonizzati tra le macerie fumanti.

8. Did he learn hislesson?

9. How would you define this short story? You can choose one or more of the following definitions. Explain the reason for your choice.

a. a fairy tale;

b. a sexist short story;

c. an anti-sexist short story;

d. a science-fiction tale;

e. a horror story.

10. Is this short story similar to another short story you have read in this collection? If so, say which one and why they are similar.

POST-READING ACTIVITY:

If you had a Materializer what would you ask for? 

 

The COMPLETE STORY:

A LOT TO LEARN

R. T. KUROSAKA 

 

 

The Materializer was completed. Ned Quinn stood back, wiped his hands, and admired the huge bank of dials, lights and switches. Several years and many fortunes had gone into this project. Finally it was ready. Ned placed the metal skullcap on his head and plugged the wires into the control panel. He turned the switch to ON and spoke: "Pound note".There was a whirring sound. In the Receiver a piece of paper appeared. Ned inspected it. Real. "Martini", he said. A whirring sound. A puddle formed in the Receiver. Ned cursed silently. He had a lot to learn. "A bottle of beer", he said. The whirring sound was followed by the appearance of the familiar brown bottle. Ned tasted the contents and grinned. Chuckling, he experimented further. Ned enlarged the Receiver and prepared for his greatest experiment. He switched on the Materializer, took a deep breath and said: "Girl". The whirring sound swelled and faded. In the Receiver stood a lovely girl. She was naked. Ned had not asked for clothing. She had freckles, a brace and pigtails. She was eight years old. "Hell!", said Quinn. Whirr. The fireman found two charred skeletons in the smouldering rubble.

THE END