There is a prison in Iceland which allows its prisoners to go out without any guards to work every day. They work on the farms near the prison during the day, and come back to have their evening meal and to sleep every evening. Before they are allowed to go out like this, they have to promise to come back every evening. If they do not promise this, they are not let out.

One night one of the prisoners was invited to have a meal and a drink with the family of the farmer he was working for, so he came back to the prison very late. He had to knock at the gate several times before the guard came to let him in.

The guard did not like being disturbed at this time, so he said to the prisoner angrily, 'If you come back so late again, I won't let you in.'

A     Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)? Write Tor F.

1. The guards in the prison in Iceland were on the farms with the prisoners during the day.
2. The prisoners had to have their evening meal on the farms.
3. They spent the night in the prison.
4. One prisoner had his meal on alarm one evening.
5. The guard did not like opening the gate late at night because he was afraid.
6. He did not let the prisoner in.

B         Answer these questions:

1. In what way is the prison in this story different from most others?
2. What work do the prisoners do?
3. What do they have to do in order to be allowed to work outside?
4. What happens if they do not do this?
5. Why was one prisoner very late one night?
6. What did he have to do to get into the prison again?
7. How did the guard feel about this?
8. What did he threaten to do is the prisoner was late again?

C      Put it, not or so in each empty place, but only if one of these is needed:

1. Did all the prisoners promise to come back every evening?' 'Yes, I think...’
2. "Did they always come back? No, I expect...’
3. Did the prisoners work really hard on the farms?' I wonder....’
4. Did the farmer who invited the prisoner like him?' 'Yes, I suppose….’
5. Do you think the prisoner who was late ever came late again? I doubt....’
6. Did the guards ever lock a prisoner out?' No, I hope ....’
7. I think that was a nice prison. I agree...’
8. We have prisons like that in Britain too.' 'I don't believe….’