Speakout Advanced p 58. Auntie Madge. Extra Word Formation

As a child, my grandmother would often tell me stories. Stories of times 1_______(go) by, of other eras. And I would listen with eager 2_____________ (fascinate), especially to the stories of her 3__________ (child). One story I will always remember was of my 'Auntie Madge', my great-aunt. She was a 4__________ (love) woman, who I once met as a child. She was a quiet woman , 5______________ (assume) . My grandmother told me how Auntie Madge had been a 6__________ (dazzle) young lady. How all the boys in the 7___________ (neighbour) had wanted to take her out on dates. But Auntie Madge only had eyes for one very nice young man, with 8________ (who) she had fallen in love.

Although the young couple planned to spend the rest of their lives together, there was a problem: my great-great-aunt Ada. Auntie Madge's mother. Ada had a reputation for being a bit of a dragon and wanting to control everything. Ada had decided that she didn't 9_________ (prove) of the young man in question and she wasn't at all happy to let her daughter marry him.

After some 10____________ (persuade), however, she 11___________ (reluctant) made a deal with Auntie Madge, saying, 'OK. If the two of you are 12___________ (determine) to marry, then all I will ask is that you stay away from each other for one year. During that time, you shouldn't see each other, speak to each other, or write each other letters. And if, after a year, he writes to you and still wants to marry you, then I will accept. I'll 13___________ (sense).'

It was a long year, but the couple kept their promise. But, after a year, Auntie Madge never heard from the young man and had to assume that he'd found someone else. She 14____________ (subsequent)  married another man, but the 15__________ (marry) was very 16________ (happy) and 17______________ (event) ended in divorce. From then on, Auntie Madge lived alone, and she never had children.
Years later, when her mother died, Madge found a box belonging to her mother. It was a small 18___________ (wood) box, which her mother had kept 19__________ (hide) in the back of her 20___________ (robe). Madge lifted the lid 21_________ (gentle) and peered inside. The moment she saw them, she recognised his 22____________ (hand). At the bottom of the box, 23___________ (lie) 24____________ (open) after all those years, were dozens of letters from the man she had wanted to marry.
What do you think happened next? Add the final paragraph.

KEY
1. gone
era: /ˈɪərə/


 
2. fascination
eager: /ˈiːɡə(r)/ very interested and excited by something that is going to happen or about something that you want to do. Keen. E.g. eager crowds outside the stadium. She is eager for (= wants very much to get) her parents' approval. Everyone in the class seemed eager to learn.



3. childhood 



4. lovely



5 unassuming 
unassuming: /ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ/ not wanting to draw attention to yourself or to your abilities or status. Modest. E.g. he was an unassuming and kindly (kind and caring) man.



6. dazzling
dazzling: extremely impressive, beautiful, or skilful. E.g. a dazzling display of football. And of course the desire is to make a dazzling first impression. But their vivacious personality comes across even in photographs and makes their overall impression one of dazzling beauty.






7. neighbourhood  
only have eyes for/have eyes only for somebody to be in love with only one particular person. E.g. He's only ever had eyes for his wife.



8. whom
 
reputation: the opinion that people have about what somebody/ something is like, based on what has happened in the past. E.g. to earn/ establish/ build a reputation. To have a good/ bad reputation. Reputation (as something) She soon acquired a reputation as a first-class cook. Reputation (for something/for doing something) I'm aware of Mark's reputation for being late. The company enjoys a world-wide reputation for quality of design. To damage/ ruin somebody's reputation. The weather in England is living up to its reputation(= is exactly as expected). She is, by reputation, very difficult to please.
 
dragon: /ˈdræɡən/ a woman who behaves in an aggressive and frightening way. E.g. his wife is a real dragon.



9. approve
approve of somebody/something E.g. Do you approve of my idea?
approve of somebody doing something E.g. She doesn't approve of me leaving school this year.  approve of somebody's doing something E.g. She doesn't approve of my leaving school this year. 



10. persuasion
persuasion: /pəˈsweɪʒn/ 



11. reluctantly
reluctantly: /rɪˈlʌktəntli/ hesitating before doing something because you do not want to do it or because you are not sure that it is the right thing to do. E.g. We reluctantly agreed to go with her. Reluctantly, he started the engine and drove off. 
deal: agreement. E.g. to make/ sign/ conclude/ close a deal (with somebody). 



12. determined
determined (to do something): /dɪˈtɜːmɪnd/ if you are determined to do something, you have made a firm decision to do it and you will not let anyone prevent you. E.g. I'm determined to succeed.



13. consent
consent: /kənˈsent/ to agree to something or give your permission for something. E.g. When she told them what she intended they readily consented. Consent to something He reluctantly consented to his daughter's marriage. Consent to do something She finally consented to answer our questions.



14. subsequently
subsequently: /ˈsʌbsɪkwəntli/ afterwards; later; after something else has happened. E.g. The original interview notes were subsequently lost. Subsequently, new guidelines were issued to all employees. He subsequently became chairman of the party.






15. marriage 



16. unhappy



17. eventually 



18. wooden 
wooden: /ˈwʊdn/ made of wood. E.g. a wooden box.



19. hidden



20. wardrobe 



21. gently 
lid: a cover over a container that can be removed or opened by turning it or lifting it. E.g. a dustbin lid. I can't get the lid off this jar. 
peer (+ adverb/preposition): /pɪə(r)/ to look closely or carefully at something, especially when you cannot see it clearly. E.g. We peered into the shadows. He went to the window and peered out. She kept peering over her shoulder. He peered closely at the photograph.



22. handwriting 



23. lying 



24. unopened 


Full text:

As a child, my grandmother would often tell me stories. Stories of times gone by, of other eras. And I would listen with eager fascination, especially to the stories of her childhood. One story I will always remember was of my 'Auntie Madge', my great-aunt. She was a lovely woman, who I once met as a child. She was a quiet woman , unassuming . My grandmother told me how Auntie Madge had been a dazzling young lady. How all the boys in the neighbourhood had wanted to take her out on dates. But Auntie Madge only had eyes for one very nice young man, who she had fallen in love with.

Although the young couple planned to spend the rest of their lives together, there was a problem: my great-great-aunt Ada. Auntie Madge's mother. Ada had a reputation for being a bit of a dragon and wanting to control everything. Ada had decided that she didn't approve of the young man in question and she wasn't at all happy to let her daughter marry him.

After some persuasion, however, she reluctantly made a deal with Auntie Madge, saying, 'OK. If the two of you are determined to marry, then all I will ask is that you stay away from each other for one year. During that time, you shouldn't see each other, speak to each other, or write each other letters. And if, after a year, he writes to you and still wants to marry you, then I will accept. I'll consent.'

It was a long year, but the couple kept their promise. But, after a year, Auntie Madge never heard from the young man and had to assume that he'd found someone else. She subsequently married another man, but the marriage was very unhappy and eventually ended in divorce. From then on, Auntie Madge lived alone, and she never had children.
Years later, when her mother died, Madge found a box belonging to her mother. It was a small wooden box, which her mother had kept hidden in the back of her wardrobe. Madge lifted the lid gently and peered inside. The moment she saw them, she recognised his handwriting. At the bottom of the box, lying unopened after all those years, were dozens of letters from the man she had wanted to marry.


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