Parson's Pleasure by Roald Dahl

On Sundays, Mr Boggis …

• drove aimlessly admiring the countryside

• was usually disappointed at the end of the day

• increased his profits

Answer explanation

He drove purposely. He searched the countryside for good pieces of furniture.

Mr Boggis …

• was blessed with a great talent as a salesman

• had a big antiques shop in Chelsea

• was an infamous antique dealer

Answer explanation

He had the gift of the gab; he had the ability to talk glibly and persuasively.

He owned a small antiques shop.

He was highly reputed for finding rare and beautiful antiques.

Cyril …

• always bought the furniture that was made by famous craftsmen

• was very knowledgeable about arts and crafts

• owed much of his success to his excellent taste

Answer explanation

He never bought a piece of furniture if it wasn't attractive.

He knew a lot about French, English and Italian furniture as well as the craftsmen who made it.

Nine years earlier …

• he was in the  countryside to visit his old grandmother

• he went to a farmhouse in order to do business

• he was forced to stop in order to cool his engine

Answer explanation

He'd gone to visit his mother.

He knocked on a farmhouse door to ask for water because his engine had overheated.

The farmer’s wife …

• thought she was making a good deal

• knew  the chairs were worthless

• had inherited the chairs from her grandmother

Answer explanation

The lady wasn't fond of the chairs as they were old-fashioned and difficult to clean.

Mr Boggis expected the chairs to be worth a fortune.

Her husband had inherited the chairs from his great-grandmother.

Cyril …

• wasn’t able to conceal his excitement

• immediately recognized the value of those chairs

• paid a fair price

Answer explanation

He was careful not to appear too interested.

He couldn't believe his eyes. The chairs were late 15th century.

His offer sounded generous to the lady, who was not aware that the chairs were valuable.

Cyril came up with a plan that would enable him to…

• get into rundown farmhouses

• get invited to prosperous-looking homes

• commit a burglary

Answer explanation

He preferred isolated farmhouses, and country mansions in bad condition, where the owner usually needed money.

In order to avoid suspicion Mr Boggis …

• presented himself as president of the Victoria and Albert Museum

• passed himself off as a parson

• printed a business card as a highly reputed antique dealer

Answer explanation

He devised a plan. He would present himself as a parson making an inventory of the treasures that lie hidden in the country homes.

He printed a business card as President of the Society for the Preservation of Rare Furniture.

After careful observation of the house owners,  Mr Boggis …

• read the bible to the religious ones

• flirted with old ladies

• took their side on political issues

Answer explanation

He gave a biblical reference here and there.

He was flirtatious with the younger ladies.

In order to look genuine he …

• bought a small modest car

• walked all the way

• pulled up his van out of sight

Answer explanation

He parked his big van far away, where it couldn't be seen.