Comprehension Exercise 1

My Crazy Neighbor

Memory Jahan (ENG 045 06353)

In this urban life, the apartment culture has become a part of our congested lifestyle. In many apartment complexes, nowadays many families have to live in separate flat of their own. Some live on monthly hiring, while others purchase the flat for a 100 years lease term. But among the many written terms and conditions of this growing apartment culture, the unwritten term, the crazy behavior of the next-door neighbor is something that many of us have to endure. Although some lucky people do get sympathetic and well-mannered neighbors, most people hardly find compassionate and understanding neighbors that care for others. In my case, I must have to say that I am also that unlucky flat owner who has been gifted with an amazingly crazy neighbor who lives in a flat downstairs. This crazy neighbor always tries his best to give me nightmarish experience. The other day when I encountered him in the lift, I could not breathe properly. He was profusely sweating in this hot weather sans any deodorant. His bad odor compelled me to stop my lift journey midway and then I had to walk all the way to reach my apartment. He does not realize that it is not manly at all to smell like a fish! The story does not end here. A few weeks ago, I was preparing for my final term exam. I could not concentrate on my studies as this arrogant and crazy neighbor of mine played loud music with his stereo sound system the whole night. He ignored my complaints. I guess such crazy neighbors are not that hard to find in our country. In a country where the lawmakers become the lawbreakers and play insensibly with the general public, isn’t it too much to expect sensible behavior from common people?

Answer the following questions.

1. What is the synonym for ‘profuse’?

(a)Rich

(b)Riot

(c)Abundant

(d)Extravagance

2. What is the antonym for ‘compassion’?

(a)Mercy

(b)Cruelty

(c)Tenderness

(d)Pity

3. Which one of the following best describes the meaning of ‘smell like a fish’?

(a)Filled with a bad smell

(b)A good weather

(c)Tolerable things

(d)None of them

4. Why could the speaker not concentrate on studies?

(a)For his/her own problems

(b)For the playing of loud music

(c)For other sounds

(d)For something else

5. Why is the speaker upset on that particular neighbor?

(a)For his craziness

(b)For his demands

(c)For his behaviors

(d)All of them

6. What should lawmakers do?

7. Would you want to get rid of this type of neighbors? Why or why not?

8. Why does the neighbor ignore the speaker’s complaints?

9. Create an alternate title for this story. Give a specific reason for choosing the title.

10. Both the speaker and the crazy neighbor could not breathe properly when they were in the lift.

(a) True

(b) False

11. Choose any three words from the short story and make a sentence. (Note: no two words can be from the same sentence in the story; and article, conjunction and prepositions cannot be picked)

Question set prepared by Iftarun Nahar (ENG 045 06378)

About the Author

Memory Jahan is a student of Stamford University Bangladesh. She is doing her major in English Literature. Her home district is Chapai Nawabganj. She has completed her SSC from Durlovpur High School and HSC from Rajshahi Women College. Her hobby is travelling, listening to music and she likes to meet with various kinds of people. She also likes to get freedom in life.