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3. The baby cried loudly. If he could have known that he was now
an orphan of a poorhouse, it is likely that he would have cried still
louder.

4. They called him Oliver Twist – a name invented by Mr. Bumble, the
Not to be republished
town beadle, because he could not think of any other. Mr. Bumble
had full authority over the people of the poorhouse. He thought
himself a very great man indeed. He starved and ill-treated the
©KTBS
children under his care. Oliver’s ninth birthday found him a pale,
thin child who had hardly known a kind word, or met with a kindly
look. His only friends were his little companions in misery. But in
the end, they brought him trouble. They persuaded him to ‘ask for
more.’

c1 answer the following questions and share your responses
with your partner.

1. Where was Oliver Twist born?
2. Who were present when Oliver was born?

3. What happened to the mother as soon as the child was born?
4. What did the mother look like while she was alive?

5. Who was Mr.Bumble?
6. How did Mr. Bumble treat the children?

7. What did Oliver’s friends want him to ask the master?

Now read on silently.
5. It happened one evening at supper time. The children were fed in
a large, stone hall, with a big, metal basin at one end. The master
stood by the basin and served each child with a small bowl of watery
gruel. Boys generally have excellent appetites. Oliver and his
companions were always hungry and never given enough to eat.
That evening, one of the bigger boys stated quite clearly that unless
he had an extra bowl of gruel, he would most certainly eat the boy
who slept next to him. He had a wild and hungry eye, so the smaller
boys believed him. A council was held. Oliver Twist was appointed
to walk up to the master after supper and to ask for more.

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