A very strict officer was talking to some new soldiers whom he had to train. He had never seen them before, so he began: 'My name is Stone, and I'm even harder than stone, so do what I tell you or there'll be trouble. Don't try any tricks with me, and then we'll get on well together.'

Then he went to each soldier one after the other and asked him his name. 'Speak loudly so that everyone can hear you clearly," he said, and don't forget to call me "sir".

Each soldier told him his name, until he came to the last one. This man remained silent, and so Captain Stone shouted at him, 'When I ask you a question, answer it! I'll ask you again: what's your name, soldier?

The soldier was very unhappy, but at last he replied. My name's Stonebreaker, sir," he said nervously.

A  Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)? Write T or F in the boxes.

1. Captain Stone trained young soldiers.
2. He was a severe man.
3. He warned young soldiers that there would be trouble if they did what he told them.
4. He asked all the soldiers except one their names.
5. The soldiers had to say, 'My name's... Sir Stone.
6. When he asked the last soldier his name, he did not answer at first, because he was deaf.

B   Answer these questions.

1. What was Captain Stone like?
2. What did he say to the new soldiers at the beginning of this story?
3. What did he tell the young soldiers to do then?
4. What happened then?
5. What answer did the last soldier give?
6.  What did Captain Stone shout then?
7. What did the soldier answer?
8. Why was he unhappy?