University Tips

Rise and shine!

By Ajarn Helen Jandamit

Welcome back to University Tips. I hope you had a great mid-year holiday. Perhaps you are puzzled by this week�s headline. Rise and shine is an idiom, often used by the military (the armed forces) or similar institutions, to wake people up in the morning.

Well, it�s the start of the second term of the school year and time to wake up after three weeks of relatively easy living. Hopefully, your return to the classroom will not be such a shock as Beetle Bailey�s morning wake-up call.

If you are familiar with this comic strip, you will know that Beetle is a very laid back soldier. He�s not very bright and he likes to do as little as possible and sleep a lot. Sarge (short for sergeant) is usually rough with him, forcing Beetle to be disciplined.

In this comic strip we see another side of Sarge. As we read along, we understand that something dreadful is about to happen to Beetle Bailey, because Sarge is being so uncharacteristically polite. By the way, 6 am is very late for a soldier to get up.

Look at the comic strip and answer the following questions:

1. Which of the following best describes Sarge�s expression in the first frame?

a. Consternation.
b. Excitement.
c. Anger.
d. Indifference.

2. In the second frame, how does Sarge address (speak to) sleeping Beetle Bailey?

a. He calls him gently.
b. He shouts very loudly.
c. He makes an alarm clock ring.
d. He speaks in a sing-song voice.

3. When Beetle doesn�t respond, what does Sarge do?

a. He hits Beetle hard.
b. He shakes Beetle.
c. He yells at Beetle.
d. He hits Beetle rapidly and lightly.

4. How does Sarge speak in the fourth frame?

a. He speaks normally.
b. He speaks politely using precise and formal grammar.
c. He speaks roughly and forcefully.
d. He speaks persuasively like a salesman.

5. What does Sarge do next?

a. He pushes Beetle out of bed.
b. He pulls Beetle�s pyjamas (US: pajamas) off him.
c. He throws Beetle�s uniform at him.
d. He offers to help Beetle put on his uniform.

6. What does Sarge do in the sixth frame?

a. He takes Beetle for a morning walk as the sun is rising.
b. He holds Beetle firmly by the arm and forces him to go somewhere.
c. He encourages Beetle to get some exercise.
d. He escorts Beetle outside to enjoy the early morning.

7. What is the meaning of the term �Here we are� in the seventh frame?

a. We have arrived at our destination.
b. We are here.
c. Enjoy yourself.
d. Enjoy your day off.

8. What was Sarge�s real intention?

a. To make Beetle�s life pleasant.
b. To make Beetle smell bad.
c. To punish Beetle.
d. To get rid of Beetle.

This second comic strip is also concerned with sleep. The name of this comic strip is Peanuts. Charlie Brown is the boy and the dog�s name is Snoopy.

Snoopy is pictured wearing a night cap to show that it is bedtime. In the first frame, we see him looking at bedtime story books. In the second frame, he chooses one.

9. Charlie Brown suggests some bedtime stories to Snoopy. Which of them does Snoopy choose?

a. Treasure Island.
b. Hans Brinker.
c. Neither of the above.
d. Both of the above.

10. How does Charlie Brown react to the book that Snoopy has chosen?

a. He reluctantly agrees to read it.
b. He happily accedes (agrees).
c. He shows that he is disappointed.
d. He refuses to read The Six Bunny-wunnies and their Pony Cart.

11. What happens when Charlie Brown starts reading to Snoopy?

a. He reads more and more quietly.
b. He reads less and less distinctly.
c. His eyes begin to close.
d. All the above.

12. What does Snoopy do when he realises that Charlie Brown is asleep?

a. He falls asleep too.
b. He turns over to get more comfortable.
c. He gets out of bed and goes to watch TV.
d. He wakes up.

13. Why did Snoopy choose the book The Six Bunny-wunnies and their Pony Cart?

a. He likes the book very much.
b. He knows that Charlie Brown likes the book.
c. He knows that Charlie Brown will stop reading quickly.
d. He wants Charlie Brown to fall asleep so that he can watch TV without Charlie Brown being aware of it.

The Ziggy cartoon below has a theme that is similar to Peanuts. Ziggy is a little, round man who leads quite an uneventful life. Some people record the interesting things that they have experienced every day in a diary (sometimes called a journal).

Look at the ZIggy cartoon below and the answer the questions: 14. How is Ziggy dressed?

a. He is wearing clothes suitable for going outside.
b. He is wearing a business suit.
c. He is wearing a hospital gown.
d. He is wearing old-fashioned night clothes.

15. What do the symbols in the thought bubbles of the dog and cat represent?

a. Snoring.
b. Surprise.
c. Thinking.
d. Asking a question.

16. Why did the parrot choose to read from Ziggy�s diary?

a. He knew that the content would be so boring that the dog and cat would fall asleep quickly.
b. He wanted to know what Ziggy had written in the diary.
c. He wanted to entertain the dog and the cat.
d. He wanted Ziggy to know how boring his life was.

Vocabulary

puzzled (adj): unable to understand something or the reason for something
the armed forces (n): a country�s army, navy and air force
institution (n): a large important organisation that has a particular purpose, for example, a university or a bank
sergeant (n): a member of one of the middle ranks in the army or the air force, below an officer
rough (adj): not gentle or careful, violent
disciplined (adj): able to obey rules and orders
dreadful (adj): causing fear or suffering
uncharacteristically (adv): not typical of somebody, not the way somebody usually behaves
consternation (n): a feeling of great surprise, shock or anxiety
indifference (n): a lack of interest, feeling or reaction towards somebody/something
precise (adj): taking care to be clear and accurate, especially about small details
persuasively (adv): able to make somebody do something by giving them good reasons for doing it
firmly (adv): in a strong or definite way
escort (v): to go with somebody to protect or guard them or to show them the way
intention (n): what you plan to do, your aim
to get rid of something/somebody (phrasal verb): to make yourself free of something that is annoying you or that you do not want, to throw something away
reluctantly (adv): hesitating before you do something because you do not want to do it or because you are not sure it is the right thing to do
uneventful (adj): not full of things that happen, especially exciting, important or dangerous things
gown (n): a piece of clothing that is worn over other clothes to protect them, especially in a hospital
bubble (n): a round shape, used in cartoons and comic strips, that contains the words or thoughts of a cartoon character

Idiom

laid back: calm and relaxed, seeming not to worry about anything