Life in the St. Petersburg Dormitory

The transcript describes the experiences of boys at a boarding school under the strict rule of a matron. The matron, feared by the boys, wields significant power, often punishing them harshly. Various incidents, such as a prank involving sugar and a snoring boy named Tweety, illustrate the matron's authority and the boys' attempts to cope with their environment. The narrative also touches on homesickness and the comfort found in imagining connections to home.

What was the matron's role at St. Petersburg?

• She was a teacher.

• She was a student.

• She was in charge of the dormitory floor.

• She was the headmaster.

How did the boys perceive the matron?

• As a strict and authoritative figure.

• As a playful and fun person.

• As a fellow student.

• As a kind and gentle figure.

What could the matron do if a boy misbehaved?

• Reward him with a treat.

• Give him extra homework.

• Send him to the headmaster.

• Let him go without punishment.

What was the matron's attitude towards small boys?

• She was afraid of them.

• She adored them.

• She was indifferent to them.

• She disliked them.

What did the boy named Rad do with castor sugar?

• He used it to bake a cake.

• He sprinkled it on the corridor floor.

• He ate it.

• He gave it to the matron.

What was the headmaster's reaction to the sugar incident?

• He laughed it off.

• He rewarded the boys.

• He ignored it.

• He punished all the boys.

What was the nightly routine for the boys in the dormitory?

• They had to sing a song.

• They had to read a book.

• They had to empty their bladders into chamber pots.

• They had to write a letter home.

How did the narrator feel connected to home during his homesick nights?

• By writing letters.

• By talking to his friends.

• By reading a book.

• By facing the direction of his home.

What unusual punishment did the matron give to Tweety for snoring?

• She gave him extra homework.

• She put soap flakes in his mouth.

• She made him run laps.

• She made him stand in the corner.