Questions and Answers
What did the man claim about the roll-top desk?
It was early nineteenth century and oak
What was found taped to the top of the small black tin box?
A piece of lined notepaper
What did the protagonist find in the secret drawer?
A small black tin box
What was the condition of the roll-top desk when the protagonist found it?
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What did the protagonist do to open the last stuck drawer?
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What did the protagonist find inside the small black tin box?
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What did the author find when he went to house number 12 in Bridport?
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Where was Mrs. Macpherson located after the fire?
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What was the setting like when the author visited Mrs. Macpherson at the nursing home?
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How did Mrs. Macpherson react when the author gave her the tin box?
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What did Mrs. Macpherson say about the author's letter?
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How did Mrs. Macpherson react when the author sat down beside her?
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What did Mrs. Macpherson offer the author after he read the letter?
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How did the matron describe Mrs. Macpherson's state that day?
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What did the German soldiers do to initiate the truce on Christmas morning?
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What did the German officer, Hans Wolf, and the British officer, Jim Macpherson, bond over?
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What did the soldiers do in no man's land besides engaging in friendly conversations?
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What song were the German soldiers heard singing as they returned to their trenches?
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What did the event depicted in the letter capture?
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What did both sides express as the truce came to an end?
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Study Notes
The Best Christmas Present in the World
- The narrator opens a box and finds a letter addressed to Mrs. Jim Macpherson, dated December 26, 1914, detailing a heartwarming event during World War I.
- On Christmas morning, German soldiers initiated a truce by waving a white flag and greeting the British soldiers, leading to a ceasefire and a meeting in no man's land.
- Despite initial suspicion, the soldiers from both sides met, shared food and drinks, and engaged in friendly conversations.
- The German officer, Hans Wolf, and the British officer, Jim Macpherson, bonded over their shared love for England, particularly the works of Thomas Hardy.
- The soldiers engaged in a football match in no man's land, with the Germans emerging as the winners, fostering a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship.
- As the truce came to an end, both sides expressed a desire for peace and a longing to be reunited with their families.
- Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson bid farewell, expressing gratitude for the moment of peace and expressing hope for an end to the fighting.
- The German soldiers were heard singing "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) as they returned to their trenches, leaving a lasting impression on the narrator.
- The story portrays a poignant and unexpected moment of humanity amidst the brutality of war.
- The letter serves as a powerful reminder of the universal desire for peace and the shared humanity of individuals on opposing sides of conflict.
- The narrative highlights the capacity for compassion and connection even in the midst of war, emphasizing the universal longing for peace and the humanizing effect of shared experiences.
- The event depicted in the letter captures the essence of the Christmas spirit, transcending national boundaries and animosities to embrace the shared humanity of all individuals involved in the conflict.
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