Assignment English

Reading task: read a short but interesting story of your own choice.answer the following questions based on the story you have read. your reading text should be attached as a appendix in your assignment. you also need to acknowledge your reading source.

1- Who is the main character in your story?describe him or her in 1 paragraph(10marks)

2- What is the setting of your book?be spesific.(10 marks)

3- In your own words,explain what is happening in the book.(write your answer to this question once per week- sometimes you may read more than others) (10marksper entry-60marks)

4- Prediction: write your prediction for the end of your book.what will happen? what makes you come to that conclusion?(10marks)

5-

Your opinion: did you like or dislike this book?explain.try to use literary terms and language as you describe what you did and did not like as you read.perhaps you can comment on whether you would recommend the book to a friend.(10marks)

This assignment submitted to the j-QAF English Language Coordinator (cik raja norita bt raja shamsudin)through your (KU) due date 21 nov2011

TITLE: THE METRO AUTHOR : JOSEF ESSBERGER SOURCE: http://www.englishclub.com/reading/story-metro.html

1. Who is the main character in your story? Describe him or her in 1 paragraph. The main character in this story is Inspector Dutruelle. Inspector Dutruelle is one of the policemen in Paris. He was the police that investigated a several murder cases. He lives with his wife Madame Dutruelle. Inspector Dutruelle is a very dedicated police. He tried his best to investigate a number of murder cases that happen tremendously in Metro. In the same time, eventhough he already has a wife, but still he has another feeling towards another woman name Vololona. He keep his secret from his wife and the only person know about it is his friend Monsieur Chbaut. He told his close friend about Vololona and told him what actually happen in his life. Inspector Dutruelles love towards his wife also seeems faded and he keeps being unfaithful to his poor wife who doesnt know what is actually happen behind her. In a mean time, in a hectic period to solve the series of murder cases in Metro,his emotion towards his secret affair also make him in a very unstable situation. He tried to focus in his investigation but the face of his secret affair always appear and it seems disturbed him. He could not concentrate on his work at all. Everything in his mind is all about Vololona. He seems to be worried if Vololona would satisfied with what he gave her already including the dinners, the presents and the apartment. He already spent a lot of things to his beloved secret affair, Vololona. Day and night his thoughts were on Vololona; he want to be with her. It is only happen if his wife will leave him. He feel worried and subsequently his focus on the investigations seems to be affected. 2. What is the setting of your book? Be spesific.(10 marks) The setting of this story is in Paris. This story is about the series of murder cases that happen in Metro. Since the Metro is one of the tunnel which is famous in Paris, there are many people use the passage everyday. The place which is among the busiest place where there are many people do a lot of activities become quite and calm because of the worried. The people who are always using the tunnel beware of the situation and the amount of people decreased day by day. They were worried since day by day there were murder cases at that area. The murderer still could not be caught and the police still do the investigation. There were no sign to be suspected. The policemen and the detective tried their best to find the proof for the murder cases. In the meantime, this story also told about the assigned policeman name Inspector Dutruelle. In this story it also told about the relationship between 2

Inspector Dutruelle and his wife. It also told about the scandal between the inspector and Vololona, who is the dancer. There is also a plot where the inspector saw the Prof. Dhiakobli after he found the Proffesors card in the Metro while he do the investigation. In the note it stated that the professor might someone who is having problem in every areas in the life. After someday, the inspector went to the Prof.s office in the Rue Beldamme. Rue Beldamme was a backstreet of tenement buildings in Paris's eighteenth arrondissement. This place is a popular area with immigrants from francophone Africa. The inspector went to the proffesors office and asked for a help from him regarding his personal problems. The proffesor appoint an appoinment to do the special ceremony to solve the problem with the special amount.

3.

In your own words,explain what is happening in the book.(write your answer to this question once per week- sometimes you may read more than others) (10marksper entry-60marks)

This story is a kind of a mysterious plus criminal story. This story set in Paris. It is about the invstigation of murder cases in the Metro. The Metro is one of a tunnel in Paris which there are many people use that passage. That place among the busisest and crowded place with a lot of activities there. But, due to the several murder cases happened at that area, the place become silence and it was not like before. Because of the several murder cases, Inspector Dutreelle was assigned to investigate the cases. He and his assistant detective tried their best to find the clue which lead to the suspect. During their investigation, the murder cases happen again and again but still they unable to find the clue which lead to the murderer. The main character of this short story is Inspector Dutrelle which is a policeman that was assigned to investigate the murder cases. In this story also told about the relationship and secret affair of Inspector Dutrelle. His feeling towards his wife seems faded away day by day. He ever think to get separated with his wife but he cannot tell the truth to his wife. He just pity of her to tell his true feeling. In the same time, he have an affair with a Malagasy girl who is a dancer nameVololona. He seems to be attacted by the beauty and sexy of that dancer. He done everything to the dancer. He paid for the apartment, bought a lot of expensive dresses, jewelry and everything. Because of the secret affair with Vololona, the inspector cannot pay much attention in the investigation. What is in his mind is a feeling of love to Vololona. Because of a woman, the dedicated inspector became worse. He difficult to control his feeling.

One day, while he and his assistant detective go to the Metro to do the investigation, they found a name card. On that card there is stated the name of Professor Dhiakobli. It stated that the professor can help people to solve the problem in any areas of live. At first the inspector just dont care of that card but then he felt that he want to see the professor. The inspector went to that proffesors office and ask the professor regarding the problem that he have. He didnt reveal his real name and pretend to be someone else. The professor told him that he might solve his problem but there are a lot of things to be sacrificed. The professor also informed him that he will used something which can help him and what he must accept is there must be a sacrifice. The inspector leave the problem to be solved by the professor. The professor asked the inspector to come to his place later to do some ritual. But on that day, there were an emergency call from the assistant detective. He told the inspector that there were a murder cases again and there were two bodies found in the Metro. It is so surprising since one of the body was really look alike Vololona and the other body was same age with his wife. It is so surprise. He then remember to that professor. The professor using the magic to kill another people on behalf of another people. The magic that he use killed the two people who is not guilty. The inspector feel guilty and quit from the investigation and he said to his assistant detective he cannot do anymore since he is the one who paid for the killer to do that work.

4. Prediction: write your prediction for the end of your book.what will happen? what makes you come to that conclusion?(10marks) Actually even this story is simple but it still make me suspense to guess who is the actual murderer behind the series of murder cases that happen in the Metro. It is not easy for me to predict the ending of this story and to guess who is the real murderer. From the beginning I cannot guess who is real murderer. There is no clue to lead to the murderer. Since the inspector and the detective also did not have something to predict I also cannot predict the real murder. The coming of Professor Dhiakobli in this story make me think that there is something to do with the proffesor. It make me think that the professor might relate with the case since the inspector found his card while do the investigation. Then, I guess the inspector will came to see the professor and might asked the professor regarding the murder cases but he only asked regarding his own problem. I thinked that if the proffesor can solve a variety of problems then he might help to find the real murderer but the inspector did not use the experties of the proffesor to find the clue to solve the case. The character of the proffesor make me wonder what is actually the secret behind his personality. The plot where Inspector Dutruelle came to the proffessors office make me suspense. It make me thinked what and 4

how the proffesor can do and help other people. The way he asked the question and answer the question is quite weird. The way in solving the problem also make me feel weird toward the proffessor. After I recheck, the proffesor is an African and it might be something to do with magic which is popular among them. This is because he said about the offering, sacrifice and special ceremony in order to solve the problem. It is called voodoo. The inspector did not expect what the proffesor might do to solve the problem and he just do what the profesor asked him to do. In the end it make me predict that the professor is the one who use the magic to kill people in order to solve his clients problem. 5. Your opinion: did you like or dislike this book?explain.try to use literary terms and language as you describe what you did and did not like as you read.perhaps you can comment on whether you would recommend the book to a friend.(10marks) I like this story since it is a simple yet interesting story. From the beginning of this story it makes me suspense and want to know the ending of the story. This story is a criminal story with the element of magic and tradition of an African tribe. People who like to read the story which is full of mystery is recommended to read this story. From the beginning I try to find and predict the suspect of the murder cases but it is not easy. The place where this story is set might be imagined by us. The Metro is a tunnel which is the undeground passage where there is a place where many people. I like the dedicated attitude of Inspector Dutruelle and the detective towards their work in investigating the murder cases. It seems that they tried theirbest to find the real murderer. This is how the policemen work when they do the investigation. Their task is not easy yet it may takes severak time to solve it. Sometimes the truth only be revealed after a long time and with a lot of ways. The patience of the policemen should be respected by others. On contrary, I dislike the part where Inspector Dutruelle having a scandal with a Magassy dancer, Vololona. It shows how the man can be easily attracted to the beautiful woman and difficult to control his desire. He should thankful to his wife and did not treated his wife badly even behind her back. He should be loyal to his wife since his wife is the one who is always behind him. I also dislike the character of Professor Dhiakobli who is the one that practice black magic in order to help his clients solving their problems. His title professor is not suitable for him since he used that title to trap other people. The used of the black magic should not be used anymore since it does not solve the problem but make another problem arise. Lastly, I dislike the ending of this story. The aothor should elaborate the ennding and make it more interesting. Overall, i recommend this book to the people who likes to read a simple investigation and criminal book. This book might become among the first book to be read for those who want to try reading this kind of genre.