Cover of the textbook Performer B1, Vol. 2

The key answer of exercise 2

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 5 - Culture and competences for the textbook Performer B1, Vol. 2 with authors Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella e Margaret Layton from Zanichelli

Question

Read the first paragraph of the story and say how the dragon felt and why.

Answer

In the first paragraph, the dragon is depicted as feeling deeply troubled and despondent. Several phrases convey the dragon's emotional state:

  1. "pale and scruffy": The physical description suggests a lack of vibrancy and vitality, mirroring the dragon's emotional condition.
  2. "looking for a disease": This action indicates a desire for an affliction, possibly as a means to end its life. It reflects a sense of hopelessness and a wish for an escape from its perceived burdens.
  3. "ending his life": The dragon has a clear intention to end its life, underscoring a profound sense of despair and a belief that life has become unbearable.
  4. "tedious, unsatisfactory, tax-troubled, and lacking in purpose": These adjectives detail the dragon's negative perceptions of its existence. The dragon sees its life as monotonous, dissatisfying, burdened by taxes, and devoid of purpose.
  5. "enroll himself into a hospital": This decision suggests a desperate attempt to find a solution to its suffering, even if it means seeking help in an unconventional way.
  6. "No Hope Ward": The choice of this ward's name further emphasizes the dragon's hopelessness and expectation of a bleak outcome.

The dragon's actions and thoughts in the first paragraph collectively paint a picture of a creature overwhelmed by despair, seeking a way out from the perceived hardships and emptiness of its life.