From Vanity Fair When Roberto first read this passage, he thought jocular
meant "amusing.
Was Roberto correct?
When she sang, every note thrilled in his dull soul, and tingled through his
huge frame. When she spoke, he brought all the force of his brains to listen and
wonder. If she was jocular, he used to revolve her jokes in his mind, and explode over
them half an hour afterwards in the street, to the surprise of the groom in the tilbury
by his side, or the comrade riding with him in Rotten Row. Her words were oracles to
him, her smallest actions marked by an infallible grace and wisdom
1. No, because the woman's words are serious
since she is full of grace and wisdom."
(from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray)
02. Yes, because the woman's silly Ideas frequently
cause the man to listen and wonder."
Dictionary
03. No, because the woman's jokes are hard to
understand though the man dutifully thinks
about them
jocular (ja' kyū lúr) adj.
1. merry, witty, humorous
2. Silly, playful
4. Yes, because the man ponders the woman's
jokes and then bursts out in laughter several
minutes later

Which two passages in this excerpt from the death of ivan illych does leo tolstoy use to suggest that ivan ilych feels like his life is slipping away from him? "what's the use? it makes no difference," he said to himself, staring with wide-open eyes into the darkness. "death. yes, death. and none of them knows or wishes to know it, and they have no pity for me. now they are playing." (he heard through the door the distant sound of a song and its accompaniment.) "it's all the same to them, but they will die too! fools! i first, and they later, but it will be the same for them. and now they are merry . . the beasts! " anger choked him and he was agonizingly, unbearably miserable. "it is impossible that all men have been doomed to suffer this awful horror! " he raised himself. "something must be wrong. i must calm myself—must think it all over from the beginning." and he again began thinking. "yes, the beginning of my illness: i knocked my side, but i was still quite well that day and the next. it hurt a little, then rather more. i saw the doctors, then followed despondency and anguish, more doctors, and i drew nearer to the abyss. my strength grew less and i kept coming nearer and nearer, and now i have wasted away and there is no light in my eyes.