ingilizce soru ve cevaplar

THE NUTCRACKER

Our story begins many years ago in a large grand house. In the main hole stood a magnificent tree, resplendent with reds, golds, and greens.  Its branches were paved in candlelight and topped with a beautiful shining star. Crackling log fires were lit, and from every room in the old house drifted the sound of music and laughter, welcoming the arrival of family and friends  because, you see, tonight is not just any night, tonight is Christmas Eve, and the party has just begun. Brother and sister Franz and Clara were especially excited as not only was it Christmas Eve but they were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their beloved Godfather Uncle Drosselmeyer, for he was a very clever man and a skilled toymaker. He would perform magic tricks to amaze and dazzle the children. And what’s more, he would always bring them each a very special present. Hoping to quickly pass the time until the arrival of Uncle Drosselmeyer, the children decided to play with their toys. Franz with his army of wooden toy soldiers, their buttoned scarlet jackets, their boots polished to a perfect black sheen. Clara gathered her dolls, a wonderful collection all of which she dressed in beautiful garments of silken lace. And she loved nothing more than to make them twirl and dance around.

“How long will he be?”, asked Clara.

“I don’t know”, said Franz, “but we seem to have waited for ever”

All of a sudden they heard the clip clop of horses on the driveway and they knew right away that uncle Drosselmeyer’s coach had arrived. Uncle Drosselmeyer strode into the house. His hat still sparkling with newly fallen snow. His blue capes swelled as he turned to greet the other party guests. Then he drew everyone’s attention to the wonderful collection of presents he had brought. There was a brightly colored Jack-in-the Box for cousin Hector, a beautiful puppet for cousin Helen, which seemed to magically come to life as she moved the strings back and forth. Next it was the turn of Franz. Uncle Drosselmeyer reached deep in the pockets of his cloak and presented him with a castle for all his toy soldiers, complete with a drawbridge and moat.

“Thank you uncle, it’s marvelous.” Cried Franz.

Uncle then turned to Clara as she was the last to receive her present, and what he gave her was a nutcracker. Now this was no ordinary nutcracker. Instead of being boring and plain, the wood had been carefully carved into the shape of a regimental soldier. Franz saw the nutcracker and was very jealous. After all he was the one who loved soldiers. He should have been given a nutcracker. And he wanted it for himself. But Clara too loved the nutcracker. It belonged to her. And she was not going to hand it over to her brother. Franz couldn’t bear it and in a flash he lunged towards the nutcracker and tried to snatch it from her hands. But Clara wasn’t about to let go and she held on tight. Franz too held on tight. And then with a very loud snap (cracking sound) the nutcracker was broken in two. Clara began to cry. But uncle Drosselmeyer had seen what had happened. And he quickly repaired the nutcracker with a magical handkerchief from his pocket. As the party drew to a close the guests left and the family went to bed. Clara fell asleep with the nutcracker safely in her arms. All was quiet in the house, not a sound except the ticking of the old grandfather clock. When the clock struck midnight, Clara woke with a start, and was amazed to see that her nutcracker had vanished. Slowly she crept downstairs. She could hear a squeaking noise coming from the dining room. So, carefully she opened the door. She blinked twice for what she saw an army of mice charging around the room. And at the head of the brigade was a huge gray mouse, the Mouse-king. They were all around the table, some climbing onto the fireplace. Clara screamed and as the Mouse-king charged his army forward she saw they were heading straight towards her nutcracker.  Then she heard another sound. It was one of drums and pipes and then the lid of her brother’s toy box sprang open and out marched his army of soldiers. The soldiers marched to stand beside the nutcracker  and he marched them into battle with the Mouse-king and his army. The Mouse-king drew his sword; the nutcracker drew his sword, and so it began. Canons boomed and swords flashed. Mice and soldiers were everywhere. Through a clearing Clara could see that Mouse-king had cornered the Nutcracker.  Aware that he was no match for the Mouse-king, the nutcracker raised his sword in one last attempt to defeat his enemy. But he had been injured and was too weak to fight. And as the Mouse-king was lunging toward the Nutcracker, Clara took of her slipper and threw it at the Mouse-king. And it hit him squarely (=directly) on the head and sent him crashing to the ground. At the very same moment, the room filled with a blinding light and all was hidden from view. Clara opened her eyes to find that her nutcracker was no longer a small soldier but a prince taller than her. “Clara, you’ve saved my life” said the Nutcracker.

-          Many years ago the Mouse-king cast an evil spell to turn me into a wooden soldier. But your bravery has broken the spell and now I am free to return to my own country.

-          Your own country? said Clara. What country is that?

-          I am prince of the land of Sweets, and for saving my life I shall take you with me.

All at once Clara felt her feet lifting from the ground and with the nutcracker prince holding her tight she was flying through the air, high over roof-tops and trees. When they landed, Clara found that she was in an enchanted wonderland where the flowers were lollipops and the stream was made from lemonade. A magical castle stood before them made from peppermints and cherry drops. As the prince let her inside she saw that a magnificent ball had begun in honor of his return. In the center of the ballroom stood a beautiful fairy princess. Her dress was the color of roses and she wore beautiful diamonds around her neck. “That’s my sugar plum fairy” said the prince and he let Clara to meet her. “How can we ever repay you Clara for bringing our prince home to us” said the Sugar-plum-Fairy. “Tonight you shall be our guest of honor”. Clara was amazed by all she saw. She loved the marshmallow cushions and wonderful gingerbread tables. And she loved the dancing of the tiny dolls with their flutes. But most of all she loved the delicate dance of the Sugar-plum-Fairy. When the dance had ended the prince took hold of Clara’s hand and led her onto the dance floor. He twirled her round and round and she was laughing with delight. When the music ended Clara closed her eyes and the nutcracker prince kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Thank you for everything Clara” he said. When Clara opened her eyes, the nutcracker prince and the Sugar-plum-Fairy had vanished. She was no longer in the enchanted world but back snuggled in her own bed.

It was Christmas morning and once again the house was alive with activity. She could hear her mother and father in the kitchen. There was the delicious smell of breakfast drifting into her room, and presents were waiting to be opened. And as Clara went downstairs to her family, she knew there would be no trace of beloved nutcracker prince. She alone had broken the spell and he was home, safe and sound, in the land of sweets.