an afternoon on the beach

UNIT 4: AN AFTERNOON ON THE BEACH

(DONN BYRNE)
(1874-1963)

CHARACTERS

Mr. Brown
Mrs. Brown
John
Mary
Granny

Before reading

Activity 1:

+ Think of the title of the play: An Afternoon on the Beach. Guess what would happen to the people in the play? Tick the boxes.

	Yes	Perhaps	No
a. The whole family would have a wonderful time on the beach.
b. John and Mary would explore a cave by the sea.
c. Granny would be tired.
d. The family would leave the beach earlier because it rained.

Answers:

Activity 2

+ There are six characters in the play: the conductor, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Brown, Granny, John and Mary. Listen to the statements and guess whose they are.

a. Look, there’s her book. In the sea.
b. Why are you children laughing? This is serious, you know. We’ve lost your grandmother!
c. The sea’s come in and covered that part of the beach.
d. The children run off. Mr. and Mrs. Brown follow them quickly.
e. Why not? I’m not a child, you know. Now, what about some tea?

Answers:

While reading
Activity 3:
+ The following words are all in the play. Listen to the speaker and repeat after him / her.

cliff
dangerous
cave
promised
come in
leave Granny
have a rest
umbrella
a box of matches
smugglers
covered
bottom
look after
serious

Activity 4:

+ Which words in the play have the following transcription:

a. /bZt∂m/
b. /kžm wn/
c. /žmbrel∂/
d. /smžgl∂z/
e. /dewn®r∂s/
f. /lk a:ft∂/

Answers:

(a) bottom
(b) come in
(c) umbrella
(d) smugglers
(e) dangerous
(f) look after

Activity 5:

+ Listen to the speaker (From the CD-ROM). He will play the roles of the characters in the play. He will act out the play.
Activity 6:

+ Look at the picture. Does it tell you that:

	Yes	No
a. John and Mary Brown come to the beach with their parents and their grandmother.
b. The old lady, Granny, is walking between Mr. and Mrs. Brown.
c. Mary and John are swimming.
d. They all have sun-glasses.
e. John is carrying a chair for Granny.
f. John has two baskets in his hands.

Answers:

Activity 7:

+ Choose the right words in the boxes and put them in the sentences.

warm          covered          age          come in         smugglers         back         nice

a. “No, we must go now. The sea will soon. Then we won’t be able to reach the cave.”
b. “You have to be careful at your ”
c. “Yes, the sun will be good for you. We don’t often have a day like this.”
d. “Goodbye, dear. We’ll soon be . Then we’ll have a cup of tea.”
e. “ came here, didn’t they?”
f. “The sea’s come in and that part of the beach.”

Answers:

Activity 8:

+ Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?

	TRUE	FALSE
1. Granny decided to come with Mrs. Hill and she got lost in the sea.
2. The smugglers brought things from the ships and hid them in the cave.
3. Mrs. Brown stayed on the beach to take care of Granny.
4. Granny went to the rock and had a good sleep there.
5. Finally Mr. Browm could not find Granny when he came back from the sea.
6. Granny complained that she was treated as a child.

Answers:

Activity 9:

+ Look at the picture. Which of the following sentences describes the picture best?

a. The Brown’s is moving to a new place.
b. The Brown’s is going to the beach.
c. The Brown’s is having dinner in the dinning room.
d. The Brown’s is having a rest in the hotel.

Answer:

Activity 10:

+ Who says this in the play? Type the names in the box.
   
Mr. Brown       Mrs. Brown         John         Mary        Granny

a. “We can’t come quickly. You know your grandmother can’t walk very fast. We can’t leave her.”

b. “Don’t stay here for me. I’m all right.”

c. “But where’s her chair? I can’t see it.”

d. “We couldn’t find you, Granny.”

e. “The sea’s coming in quickly. Shall I get the baskets …?”

f. “I want to be alone. I want to read and have a rest.”

Answers:

After reading

Activity 11:

+ Here are some different titles for the play. Which one could it go with?

(a) A Life of Service
(b) A Kind Heart
(c) Springtime in the Heart
(d) A Woman in Trouble
(e) A Shocking Memory
(f) A Little Lady

Answer:

Activity 12:

+ Here is Mary, from An Afternoon on the Beach, now grown up. She is talking about her childhood to her boy friend (Jim) at college. How did the conversation between them continue? Use the following words to complete the conversation.

carried               covered           swim           found          gone     happened          umbrella          could          child           woke up

Jim: … Granny’s not there?
Mary: Yes. She’s , and her chair and her have, too.
Jim: What ?
Mary: The sea’s come in and that part of the beach. We all think she’s because she couldn’t .
Jim: Oh, no! But you her at last, didn’t you?
Mary: Yes, we did. She went to the rock and was sleeping there. When we come, she heard our voice and .
Jim: But how she get there?
Mary: She the chair with her and walked there. She said that we should not look after her as a .
 

Answers: