ENA3 / Haaksluoto / 2026 - 2027 / 1. periodi

KOEALUE:

2026-08-17T16:41:03+03:00

The EXAM is October 1st, 2026 at 17.00 - 21.00 hours in class room 31:
Koe on Otavan sähköinen koe. Ota mukaan oma kannettavasi täyteen ladattuna sekä tarvittavat sähköjohdot että LANGALLISET KUULOKKEET.
KOEALUE:
1) vocabulary
4 When you beat the odds p. 28 - 35
7 Stains of the past p. 54 - 61
9 The anatomy lesson p. 72 - 81
2) glossaries:
Theatre and film p. 26 - 27
Music p. 36 - 37
Visual arts p. 82 - 83
Literature p. 106 - 107
3) Grammar
a) substantiivit; yksiköt & monikot
b) artikkelit (a, an, - , the)
c) genetiivi
4) Reading comprehension (culture in its various forms)
5) Listening comprehension (culture in its various forms)
6) Production (700 - 1,300 characters)

Teksti

2026-08-17T16:44:19+03:00

ENA3 / ENGLISH / ADVANCED / NEW INSIGHTS MODULE 3 / SCHOOL YEAR 2026 - 2027 / PERIOD I

Töölön yhteiskoulun aikuislukio, Urheilukatu 10 - 12, 00250 Helsinki

Teacher: Erja H. Haaksluoto e-mail: erja.haaksluoto@tyk.fi Available for consultation: 1) before and after the lessons, and 2) on Mondays at 20.05 - 20.45 hours (= so-called KIELIKLINIKKA) (except NOT during the exam weeks)

Book: Elina Karapalo – Paula Keltto – Mark Kilmer – Päivi Kuusivaara – Teijo Päkkilä –Annukka Suonio: New Insights Module 3 (Otava)

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE: On course 3 we are focusing on one theme: culture. In grammar and structures we shall deal with nouns: countable nouns, uncountable nouns; singulars, plurals; articles (a / an / - // the); genitives / possessive structures.

We shall meet 11 (eleven) times Mondays and Wednesdays at 18.40 - 20.00 hours in class room 31 or online on Google Meet at the following link: meet.google.com/her-rxva-umj as follows:

STUDY PLAN:

August 24, 2026: Introduction to the course / Home Assignments: review and composition p. 140 – 143 p. 147 - 148 / 4 When you beat the odds p. 28 -30 / Glossary: Music p. 36

August 26, 2026: exercise 4c & 4d & 4e p. 31 – 32 // exercise 4h p. 34 // GRAMMAR: NOUNS p. 152 – 157

August 31, 2026: exercises 4 & 5 p. 163 // GRAMMAR: NOUNS p. 158 – 161

September 2, 2026: exercises 6 & 8 p. 164 // 6 Insights into Finland p. 46 - 53

September 7, 2026: exercises 10 & 11 p. 166 – 167 // exercise 6g p. 53

September 9, 2026: 7 Stains of the past p. 54 – 56 // exercise 7c p. 57 // GRAMMAR: ARTICLES p. 168 - 172 // exercise 14 p. 175

September 14, 2026: exercises 7e & 7f & 7g & 7i p. 58 – 61 // GRAMMAR: ARTICLES p. 173 -174 // exercise 15 p. 174

September 16, 2026: exercises 16 & 17 p. 177 // GRAMMAR: ARTICLES p. 178 – 181 // exercise 19 p. 182 // Glossary: Visual arts p. 82 // 9 The anatomy lesson p. 72 – 75

September 21, 2026: GRAMMAR: GENITIVES & POSSESSIVE STRUCTURES p. 185 –187 // exercise 23 p. 188 // Glossary: Visual arts p. 82 // 9 The anatomy lesson p. 72 – 75

September 23, 2026: exercise 24 p. 189 // exercise C p. 83 // 9 The anatomy lesson p. 72 - 75 // exercises 9b & 9c & 9d p. 76 – 77 // Glossary: Literature p. 106

September 28, 2026: exercises 9f & 9h p. 79 – 81 // exercise C p. 107 // Glossary: Literature p. 106

WRITTEN DIGITAL EXAM with listening comprehension tests takes place at 17.00 – 21.00 hours on Friday, October 1st, 2026.

HOME ASSIGNMENTS:

REVIEW ON A NOVEL OR A MOVIE OR A CONCERT OR AN OPERA OR A BALLET OR A PLAY OR AN ART EXHIBITION (AN ARTWORK ANALYSIS WILL ALSO DO)

DEADLINE: on September 23rd, 2026 / Before you do anything, have a close look at pages 140 - 143!

COMPOSITION: DEADLINE: on September 23rd, 2026. You find the composition titles on pages 147 – 148. Please, make sure that you write your name on your home assignments.

EXAM at 17.00 - 21.00 hours on Thursday, October 1st, 2026: The exam consists of the following parts: 1) listening comprehension tests on October 1st, 2026, at 17.00 – 21.00 hours 2) digital written part on October 1st, 2026, at 17.00 – 21.00 hours, consists of the following parts:

a) RC / reading comprehension
b) MC / multiple choice
c) Grammar: 1) countable and uncountable nouns, 2) singulars and plurals, 3) the use of different articles (a / an / - / the), and 4) genitives and possessive structures
d) Translations and vocabulary on the texts that we have dealt with during the course
e) Composition of 700 – 1,300 characters

THE GRADE ON COURSE 3 CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING: 1) LC exams and written digital exam on October 1st, 2026 2) Review and Composition (+) 3) Activity during the lessons (+++)

You will get your exams back on your e-mail.

RETAKE EXAM: at 17.00 – 20.05 hours on Friday, October 30th, 2026 = UUSINTAKOE, johon on ehdottomasti ilmoittauduttava etukäteen täyttämällä vaaleansininen lomake, jonka saa kansliasta, 2. krs. Lomake palautetaan kansliaan VIIMEISTÄÄN VIIKKOA ENNEN UUSINTAKOETTA eli viimeistään perjantaina 23.10.2026. Uusintakoelomakkeesta on nyt myös olemassa sähköinen lomake. Nettisivuilla on pdf, jonka voi suoraan täyttää ja lähettää liitetiedostona kansliaan. Lomake löytyy koulumme nettisivuilta.

Olen Erja Haaksluoto ja opetan englantia Töölön yhteiskoulun aikuislukiossa. Olen valmistunut Helsingin yliopistosta ja ollut Töölön yhteiskoulun aikuislukiossa syyskuusta 1989 lähtien. Rakastan oopperaa, balettia, klassista musiikkia, konsertteja, kirjallisuutta, runoutta, teatteria, museoita, taidenäyttelyjä - siis kulttuuria - ja kieliä. Rakastan myös opettamista. Olet lämpimästi ja sydämellisesti tervetullut tälle englannin kurssille.

August 24th, 2026

2026-08-26T14:42:44+03:00

HW: ex. A & b p. 37

notorious (adj.) = (ikävällä / huonolla tavalla) kuuluisa
famous (adj.) = kuuluisa

audition (v.) = mennä koe-esiintymiseen
an audition (n.) = koe-esiintyminen

Text 4 When you beat the odds
lauseenvastikkeita: sanoja on jätetty pois:
l. 1 (When he was) growing up outside of London,... = Kun hän kasvoi aikuiseksi Lontoon ulkopuolella,...
l. 7 - 8: Not taking into consideration,...
= If you don't take into consideration,... = Jos et ota huomioon sitä, että...
l. 8 - 9: Despite (the fact that he was) born without his right hand and despite not being able to read music (= despite the fact that he wasn't able),... = Siitä seikasta huolimatta, että hän oli syntynyt ilman oikeaa kättä ja siitä seikasta huolimatta, että hän ei osannut lukea nuotteja,...

August 26th, 2026

2026-08-31T16:43:43+03:00

HW: ex. 4c & 4d & 4e & 4f p. 31 - 33 / ex. 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 p. 161 - 163

fall in love with s-g = rakastua jhkn
Marc fell in love with Mary.

to his surprise = to his amazement = yllätyksekseen

specialize in s-g: He specialized in Baroque music.
compose (v.) = säveltää
a composer (n.) = säveltäjä
a composition (n.) = sävellys

Singulars & Plurals:
1. yleensä monikko tulee -s:
He wrote many novels.
Jean Sibelius composed many compositions.

2. jos vartalo loppuu -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z, tulee -es:
He drove many buses.
She washed the dishes.
They played many matches.
He moved many boxes from house to house.

3. soinniton -f muuttuu soinnilliseksi variantikseen -v, kun tulee monikon pääte:
a knife: She bought six knives.
a wife: He had four wives.
a wolf: How many wolves are there in Finland?
MUTTA: a belief / many beliefs
a roof / many roofs

4. yksikkö ja monikko loppuu -s-kirjaimeen:
a crossroads / many crossroads
a species / many species
a series / many species
SAMOIN -craft-loppuiset substantiivit:
an aircarft / many aircraft
a spacecraft / many spacecraft
a hoovercraft = ilmatyynyalus / many hoovercraft

5. ihmisen ravinnoksi käyttämiä eläimiä & kaloja: yksikkö ja monikko samannäköisiä
a sheep / many sheep: How many sheep are there in Australia?
an elk / many elk = hirvi
a moose / many moose = kanadanhirvi
a deer / many deer = peura
a reindeer / many reindeer = poro: How many reindeer does Niila Näkkäläjärvi own?
a salmon / many salmon = lohi: Akseli caught three salmon.
a rainbow trout / many rainbow trout = kirjolohi

August 31st, 2026

2026-08-31T20:19:26+03:00

HW: ex. 10 & 11 p. 166 - 167

ENGLANNISSA VAIN YKSIKKÖ:
1. advice
That was good advice. = Nuo olivat hyviä neuvoja.
He gave me a word of good advice. = Hän antoi minulle yhden hyvän neuvon.
= He gave me a piece of good advice.
= He gave me an item of good advice.

Näille sanoille on yhteistä seuraava:
1. sanaa ennen ei voi olla a / an
2. se ei saa koskaan monikkoa -s

2. baggage = luggage
3. equipment
4. evidence
5. furniture
He sold old furniture. = Hän möi vanhoja huonekaluja.
He sold a piece of old furniture. = Hän möi yhden vanhan huonekalun.
6. homework
7. housework
8. information
9. jewellery = jewelry
10. money
I left the money on the kitchen table.
Where is the money? I left it on the table.
11. news
"Is there any news?" = "Onko mitään uustisa?"
It was an item of bad news.

a hippopotamus / many hippopotami

a phenomenon - many phenomena

a criterion - many criteria
a mitochondrion - many mitochondria

yksikössä i; monikossa e:
a crisis - many crises
an oasis - many oases
a basis - many bases
a thesis - many theses
a hypothesis - many hypotheses
MUISTISÄÄNTÖ: kirjain i = näyttää samalta kuin numero 1

exercises 4c, 4d, 4e

2026-08-31T20:35:26+03:00

4c Spot the phrase. How are these phrases expressed in the text?
1. a friend of mine
2. fell in love
3. at the time
4. not taking into consideration
5. for hours and hours a day
6. a year into his new obsession
7. she hung up the phon
8. out of millions and millions of people in the world
9. I walked in the room
10. he went on to study
11. such an inspiration

4d Translate this story into English. Use the phrases from the previous exercise.
1. A few years ago, I fell in love with David Gilmour’s music / the music of David Gilmour.
2. At the time I didn’t believe in myself very much, so I only dreamt/dreamed about learning to play.
3. Then, a friend of mine finally told me to do something about it.
4. And like thousands of young people in the world, I picked up the guitar for the first time.
5. Now I practise for many hours / hours and hours a day and I love it!

4e Fill in with suitable words in their correct form. There are three extra words.

4f Read the following text and answer the questions in Finnish. Then discuss the questions in English with your partner.
1. Vaikutti aivoihin, uneen, stressitasoon, vastustuskykyyn, auttoi opiskelussa ja keskittymisessä, paransi koetuloksia, vähensi kivun tunnetta, tasasi verenpainetta.
2. Arvioitiin, että musiikki herkisti opiskelijoiden tunteita ja he ottivat uutta tietoa paremmin vastaan.
3. Ihmiset nukahtivat nopeammin ja nukkuivat kauemmin. (Tämä johtui siitä, että musiikki hidasti aivoaaltoja.)
4. Isoja orkesteriteoksia, joissa on suuria dynamiikan (äänenvoimakkuuden) vaihteluja ja tempon muutoksia.

Teksti

2026-08-31T20:41:51+03:00

4e

Fill in with suitable words in their correct form. There are three extra words.

absolute ● ambition ● audition ● by ear ● compose ● debut album ●
discourage ● label ● keyboards ● major ● piece ● proceed ● release

Stevland Hardaway Morris was born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. He was born prematurely and was given too much oxygen in the incubator, which caused him to become blind. But this never 1. discouraged him. He had a gift for music, which was from an early age. He taught himself how to play several instruments, including 2. keyboards. At the age of 11, he 3. auditioned for the Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. who signed him for his 4. label and a year later in 1962, his 5. debut album The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder was 6.released. Wonder also 7. composed many of the songs he played and the 8. pieces he wrote soon topped the charts. Wonder 9. proceeded to make dozens of hit songs over the decades. He is one of Motown's 10. major artists and he has won several awards for his music.

exercises 4c, 4d, 4e

2026-08-31T20:35:24+03:00

September 2nd, 2026

2026-09-02T20:12:30+03:00

HW: ex. Engage p. 169

cloudberry = lakka

What is typical of Finland?
Finns tend to take care of their own business.
sauna & Santa Claus (= Father Christmas)
Lakes are typical of Finland.
Finnish gin
climate
President Alexander Stubb

measles = tuhkarokko
German measles = rubella
mumps = sikotauti

Could we change seats?
It is polite to shake hands when you meet a new person.
How many people lost their lives in the accident?

pants / tights / trousers / shorts / leggings
My jeans are blue.

"Four Weddings and a Funeral" (Hugh Grant)

näyttää yksiköltä, mutta verbi monikossa:
people / police / cattle / poultry
People are usually kind.
The police have been looking for a serial killer.
The cattle are grazing on the field.

What is the southernmost place / city in Finland? = eteläisin

Teksti

2026-09-02T20:17:05+03:00

exercise 10 Fill in the missing words.
1. tourist attractions and advice
2. some information
3. one billion people
4. are divided into two thousand
5. species which include
6. the most popular tourist activities
7. popular beaches
8. surroundings are
9. cheap restaurants
10. party that is
11. the beliefs
12. To our knowledge
13. is the crossroads
14. the cattle are
15. a funeral is
16. their lives
17. one of the most impressive sights
18. 400-year-old
19. his favourite wife

exercise 11 More advanced Translate into English.
1. Is this all the homework? Is there no more? / Isn't there (any) more?
2. Isn't good advice hard to get?
3. This is good news.
4. Has knowledge always been power?
5. Has all the equipment/gear been packed?
6. What's the best means/way to succeed in life?
7. That's / It's a dangerous crossroads, isn't it?
8. Have these phenomena been new for you?
9. Congratulations on the new job!
10. Thanks, but money isn't everything in this life.
11. Where you invited to Liz's fourth wedding?
12. Yes, it was a fun party!
13. Mark gave me two pieces of advice.

September 7th, 2026

2026-09-09T11:28:17+03:00

September 7th, 2026

HW: ex. 13 & 14 p. 175

in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening
BUT: at dawn = at sunrise
at noon = at midday
at dusk = at sunset
at night

The speed limit in Finland is very often 80 kilometres an / per hour.
Blueberries cost 20 euros a box.

It was a useful piece of advice.

Sanoja, joissa ei ole artikkelia a / an:
nature = luonto
Nature is beautiful in the countryside.
space: Is there life in outer space?
humankind = mankind
humanity
Heaven
Hell
Parliament
man = ihminen
Man makes mistakes.
society = yhteiskunta
Congress
Crime doesn't pay. = Rikollisuus ei kannata.
It was a crime. = Se oli rikos.

ateriat yksinään:
I didn't have breakfast.
Did you have lunch?
BUT: I had a very healthy breakfast this morning.

sairaudet ovat yleensä ilman artikkelia:
He had cancer. I had bronchitis.
They were in bed with flu.
BUT: catch a cold = vilustua
I caught a cold.
I have a sore throat.
Nikolai had a cough.
Heaven / Hell

Pauli Kiuru is a Member of Parliament.
Pauli Kiuru is an MP.

Articles: a / an / - // the
Indefinite article:
She has a husband.
a / an tullut sanasta ONE.
She saw an elephant.
Matti is a man.
Matti is an old man.
Matti is a young man.
Matti is an honest man.
It took an hour to drive to Lahti.
Ääntäminen ratkaisee!

Niclas drinks milk / water / whisky / juice.
This bracelet is made of gold.
I love French and History.
This table is made of wood.
juotavat nesteet, ruuat, aineet ja oppiaineet: ei tule artikkelia.

COUNTABLES / UNCOUNTABLES:
laskettavat ja ei-laskettavat substantiivit

MÄÄRÄINEN ARTIKKELI / DEFINITE ARTICLE:
the
1. PERUSSÄÄNTÖ: kun asia mainitaan 1. kerran, tulee a / an. Kun se mainitaan 2. kerran, tulee the:
I met a girl on the street. The girl happened to be American.

2. Shut the door, will you?
Could you please open the window?
Shall we meet at the airport?
There were dark clouds in the sky.
Asiayhteydestä tuttu tai yleisesti tunnettu asia, tulee the.
The weather has been quite warm.
The sun was shining all day.

3. kun on prepositiofraasi jäljessä:
What is the name of this bird?
The roof of the house is leaking.

4. relatiivilause jäljessä:
Did you receive the letter (that) I sent to you?

5. superlatiiveissa:
It was the best film I had ever seen.

6. monet sanonnat:
the following day
the next day
the same as: She has the same opinion on the matter as you.
Thanks, the same to you.

7. ilmansuunnat:
He lives in the south of France.

8. adjektiivin substantivoiminen:
deaf: The deaf use a sign language.
rich: The rich have different problems than the poor.

9. instrumentti:
Can you play the piano? / the violin / the cello
BUT: play football / volleyball / tennis / badminton

10. sanonta:
The sooner the better. = Mitä pikemmin, sitä parempi.

Teksti

2026-09-07T20:26:11+03:00

2. Artikkelit p. 169
Engage
Mark the following words and phrases with a, an or –.
1. a unicorn
2. a young man
3. an unfair decision
4. an hourglass
5. - heaven
6. an MP
7. an interesting choice
8. - milk
9. - every time
10. a headache
11. - music
12. - women
13. - houses
14. - advice
15. - outer space

September 9th, 2026

2026-09-09T20:00:36+03:00

HW: ex. 15 p. 176 & ex. 17 p. 177

ethnical cleansing = etninen puhdistus

indigenous peoples = alkuperäiskansat

catch a cold = vilustua

take a bath / take a shower / take a break / take a walk / take an interest in s-g: She took an interest in swimming. = She became interested in swimming. / take a look at s-g: He took a look at us. = He looked at us.

Teksti

2026-09-09T20:05:48+03:00

exercise 13 p. 175

Fill in the sentences with a, an or –.

I have - two sisters and a brother. My brother has a son. That makes me an uncle.
Does anyone have a cell phone? I need to make an emergency phone call.
Today you ate an ice cream cone, a slice of pizza, a burrito and - doughnuts. That's not exactly a healthy diet.
Vegetarians don't eat - meat, they eat - vegetables and - fruit. Don't make him a greasy hamburger; make him a healthy salad instead.
He asked me to take a walk with him and then he bought me a cup of coffee and - some ice cream. Unfortunately it rained, so I caught a cold.
It takes me an hour to walk to school and I really hate - early mornings.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. That's why I had a red apple for breakfast.

Teksti

2026-09-09T20:10:37+03:00

exercise 14 p. 175

Fill in the sentences with a, an, the or –.

Oh no! I left the key inside! Don't you know, - locksmiths cost billions and this is already the fifth key that I've lost or forgotten.
I love - movies. Have you seen What's eating Gilbert Grape? Leonardo di Caprio was amazing in the film.
Look at the moon! All the / - romantic movies always end in a scene with the leading couple kissing under a tree and then there's a beautiful song playing in the background.
Did you like the book that I recommended to you? Wasn't it a great novel?
Last night, the concert was amazing! It was probably the best one I've seen so far. Except for the man who wouldn't stop singing.

7 Stains of the past

2026-09-09T20:12:51+03:00

Engage (Questions in Finnish) page 54

Watch the video where Kerry talks about how her grandparents met. Then answer these questions in Finnish.

🔒 You will get the correct answers from your teacher.


1. Miksi perhe karkotti Kerryn isoäidin?	Hän oli raskaana.
2. Missä isoäiti työskenteli Tuktoyaktukissa?	Hotellissa.
3. Mitä Kerryn isoisä teki työkseen?	Hän oli turkiskauppias.
4. Miksi hänen isoisänsä kävi usein Tuktoyaktukissa?	Lentokoneet toivat tavaraa myytäväksi sinne.
5. Mihin isovanhemmat menivät treffeille?	Koiravaljakkoajelulle.
6. Miksi mukluk-saappaat ovat hankalia jäällä?	Ne ovat liukkaita uutena.
7. Miksi isoäiti kaatoi koiravaljakon?	Koska isoisä oli pudonnut liukkaiden kenkien vuoksi kyydistä.

Interviewer: Your personal experiences with the First Nations community – would you like to tell?

Kerry: Yeah, sure. So I don't know a lot about my family, but I do know that my grandmother was part of First Nations and she grew up in Winnipeg. And so did my grandfather, although my grandfather – his family is European, of European descent. But what I do know is that when my grandmother was young, so she was about 17 or 18 years old, she was pregnant and she was kind of, I think, banished from her family because of that, she wasn't married. And so she left Winnipeg and she went up North to the Arctic to Tuktoyaktuk, which is in the Northwest territories. And it's right on the Arctic Ocean. And she worked in a hotel there.

My grandfather left Winnipeg when he was 17 as well, and he got a job working for the Hudson Bay Company. He was a fur trader and so he was sent up North, and he lived for a few years in a place called Aklavik, which doesn't exist anymore. The community was moved from Aklavik. They created a new community called Inuvik. It was because of the ice flow, they couldn't have the town in Aklavik anymore. And so he lived up there, and he has a lot of very interesting stories. And he spoke some of the language of the people there, because he had to in order to do business with them and purchase their furs and sell them goods.

He often had to go up to Tuktoyaktuk to meet the planes, because the planes would bring in the goods like the Hudson Bay blankets, sugar, and all of those sweets and things that he would sell. And he met my grandma when he was staying at the hotel in Tuktoyaktuk. And I think he kind of fell in love right away. I don't know if she felt the same or not. But the next time that he went up there, a friend of his who had a dog sled team, he asked him if he could borrow the dog sled team. And he met my grandma and he took her on a date, and she sat in the dog sled, and he had her wrapped up in blankets. And he had just purchased new mukluks. Mukluks are leather – they're like a slipper, but they go up higher on the leg – and the way that he tells the story is, when you first purchase them they're very slippery on ice and you have to kind of wear them down a little bit, and then they're not as slippery. But these were brand new ones, and so when he got on the back of the dog sled he went to take off to go across the ice, and he slipped and fell off of the dog sled. And the dogs kept running of course, and my grandma was in the basket and she was talking to him and he wasn't responding, and he was trying to run behind and catch up. And she happened to look behind her and see him running behind, and so she took the sled and tipped it over so that the dogs would stop running, and he caught up. So that was the first time that my grandma and grandpa had a date.

And she soon moved to Aklavik to live with him. And so my dad has a half sister. And they moved throughout the North and then ended up living in Fort Nelson, which is in Northern British Columbia. And then soon after that my grandpa stopped working for the Hudson Bay Company and they moved to Prince George. But yeah, that's just a fun story that I like to share about my family.

7 Stains of the past page 56

2026-09-09T20:15:59+03:00

1. make First Nations people abandon their culture
2. Some of them were caring and understanding.
3. The last residential school was closed in the 90s.
4. It will take roughly seven generations to repair it.
5. 20 percent of the prison population is First Nations prisoners.
6. It is common for First Nations students to come from broken families.
7. They are lower.
8. There are signs of First Nations culture reviving.
9. They get many different kinds of support.

Interviewer: First Nations’ position in Canada today is largely dependent on what happened historically. So one of the things that happened was residential schools. And those were a huge part of Canada's history. Canada is typically viewed as a peaceful country, but it wasn't all entirely peaceful especially regarding Aboriginal people. So residential schools – basically the goal was to assimilate First Nations into the European cultures when the settlers came and started to colonize Canada. So basically one of the goals was to take the Indian out of the child, and they did this in a number of ways. They would remove the child from their families and they would take them to residential schools where they would learn about European culture, and it wasn't so much of a school as a place where they were basically forced out of their own cultures.

Kerry: Yeah, they weren't allowed to speak their own language at school. Some of them weren't able to visit their families at all. And although a lot of the teachers worked very hard and did care about the students, there are still lots of stories of physical violence, sexual abuse, starvation, neglect and just general violence that the youth who were in the residential schools faced.

Interviewer: Yes, and something important about residential schools is people don't view them as a thing that happened recently, but it is very recent in terms of Canada's past in history. The last residential school closed in Saskatchewan in 1996, so that was not a long time ago, so we need to recognize that that's something that is pretty close to our time.

Kerry: And it's something that we as Canadians still see the effects of very much so within our First Nations, our Métis and our Inuit populations. There is discussion and a lot of research has been done on the effects of the residential schools. People estimate that it will take roughly 7 generations to repair the damage that was done, and there's a lot of different things that we see occurring in Canada because of that.

Interviewer: Yes, there are a lot of cases of intergenerational suffering, and that's something that people need to recognize, because Aboriginal people and First Nations people, they are overrepresented in our prisons. 20% of our federal prison population is First Nations and 27% of our provincial and territorial prison population is First Nations as well. And that’s seven to eight times larger than the overall population of First Nations in Canada.

Kerry: One of the other things that we see a lot of is homelessness and drug and alcohol abuse, because people were traumatized and they don't have the coping skills to be able to deal with their life. And so the poverty, most of - well not most, but a large part of Canadians living in poverty - are of First Nations, Métis, or Inuit heritage. And so we also do see the effects of residential schools in our own school population, even though those students, they didn't personally attend residential schools. Their parents may have, and if their parents didn't, their grandparents probably did. And so we see a lot of our students being raised by grandparents or older siblings, because their family unit has disintegrated. We see a large number of our Aboriginal youth in care and living in poverty, so we definitely do encounter a lot of students in our school. Jasper Place is an example where we have about – I think, about 12% of our student population identifies as First Nations, Métis or Inuit, and across Canada our graduation rates are significantly lower for our First Nations, Métis and Inuit students.

Interviewer: Yeah, one of the effects of residential schools lies in homes of Aboriginal people, because if they were brought up in a place where there was abuse, there was neglect and that was all they knew, they don't have any opportunity to learn how to properly parent their children and that has a lot of effects.

Kerry: There's a lot of positives as well. We see a lot more Aboriginal individuals graduating from post secondary institutes in Canada, and many of those people are going on to work within their community or help to improve the situation for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada. Many of them go back to their home communities and work to support youth and support mental health and addictions concerns, so we do definitely see a lot of improvement happening and it's coming from within the community. There are many cultural events that happen on our reserves where the majority of people live. Pow wows and different ceremonies being held. We also see that coming into our schools as well, so at Jasper Place high school we have an Aboriginal community liaison who works with our youth and helps them to connect with their communities and their culture a little bit more. We have an Aboriginal success coach who works with students to help improve the graduation rates and also just to make connections with students. We have a leading spirits Aboriginal youth council and we also have different elders coming into the school to help with celebrations and ceremonies. We do smudging on a regular basis, where – that's a ritual that helps to cleanse the mind and the body, and gets our students ready for the day or for tests or exams that are coming up. So there's a lot of positives happening, and we do see improvement. We do see a larger number of students graduating, but it's still definitely something that is a big issue for Canadians as a whole.

Interviewer: Yes, there are a lot of opportunities for Aboriginal people to succeed, which is great, because that wouldn't have happened even in the past decade. At our University of Alberta we have native studies programs as well as there are a lot of scholarships offered for people who are Aboriginal, and there are a lot of success stories which should be celebrated.

Kerry: Yeah, definitely. We have specific television networks that highlight Aboriginal culture and performers. We have music festivals that highlight Aboriginal musicians, and there's more and more visibility for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada, and I think that the majority of Canadians are recognizing the importance of that, but we still definitely do have a long way to come.

September 14th, 2026

2026-09-14T20:16:11+03:00

HW: ex. 16 p. 176 & ex. 21 p. 183; ex. A & B & C p. 82
artikkelin käyttö erisnimien kanssa:
1. the Great Lakes
the Netherlands
the United States of America
the Canary Islands
the Orkney Islands = the Orknies
the Alps
the Himalayas
the Philippines
the Kennedys
the Murphys
erisnimeen, joka on monikossa, tulee määräinen artikkeli: THE
2. Victoria Station
J.F. Kennedy Airport
Trafalgar Square
Piccadilly Circus
Windsor Castle
Buckingham Palace
Hyde Park
Oxford Street
Eton College
Finlandia Hall
London Bridge
proper noun + general noun: NO ARTICLE
3. Lady Diana
Lake Superior
Lake Huron
Prince Harry
King Charles
Queen Victoria
prime minister Orpo
President Stubb
Mount Everest
general noun + proper noun: NO ARTICLE

tulee THE:
1. merien ja valtamerien nimissä on määräinen artikkeli
the Dead Sea
the North Sea
the Baltic Sea
the Mediterranean
the Atlantic
the Pacific

2. joet
the Nile / the Amazon / the Danube / the Rhine
the Suez Canal / the English Channel
the Gulf of Ostrobothnia

3. autiomaat
the Sahara Desert
the Kalahari Desert

4. maapallon osat
the Arctic Circle
the North Pole
the South Pole
the Equator

Epämääräisen artikkelin paikka:
1. rather / quite
It was rather / quite a warm day.
It was a rather / quite warm day.
NB! It was quite an experience!
He is rather a bore.
2.
as / how / however / so / too + adjektiivi + a / an + pääsana
He wants to buy as fast a car as Ferrari is.
How expensive a flat did Bob rent?
However charming a man Marc is, you shouldn't trust him.
Karen is so good a friend to me.
(Karen is such a good friend to me.)
Mercedes Benz is too expensive a car to me.

Teksti

2026-09-14T20:22:14+03:00

exercise 15 p. 176

Choose the correct alternative.

How does 1. - musical training shape 2. the brain?
Scientists have observed 3. the activity of living brains, and 4. the results are clear: musicians are different. For instance, in 5. - one study, people who played 6. - musical instruments as children showed more responses to sound than non-musicians. Other studies have reported that kids who received 7. - musical training developed special responses to 8. - music and speech. And it's not just 9. a matter of differences in brain activity. There are also differences in 10. - brain volume. If you examine 11. the brain of 12. a keyboard player, you'll find that 13. the region of 14. the brain that controls finger movements is enlarged. Moreover, brain scans of 9- to 11-year-old children have revealed that 15. - kids who play musical instruments have significantly more grey matter volume. In fact, 16. - musicians have significantly more grey matter in several brain regions, and 17. the effects of 18. - music lessons seem to increase with 19. the intensity of training. So saying "he's just listening to 20. - music" isn't really true, is it?

Teksti

2026-09-14T20:26:07+03:00

affect (v.) = influence = impact
Music affects the brain.
have an effect (n.) = an influence = an impact = efekti
Music has an effect on the brain.

exercise 17 p. 177

2026-09-14T20:24:18+03:00

The Awakening is a novel by Kate Chopin and it was first published in 1899. The novel is set in New Orleans at the end of the 19th century. The plot centers around Edna Pontellier, the main character, and the contrast between her own views on motherhood and the common social attitudes in the South back then. It is one of the earliest American novels that focuses on women's issues. It is also widely seen as a landmark work of early feminism. It caused a mixed reaction from contemporary readers and critics. The novel blends realistic narrative and social commentary. The Awakening is a/the forerunner of American modernist literature. It echoes the works of her contemporaries such as Edith Wharton and Henry James. It can also be considered among the first Southern works in a/the tradition that has been carried on to our day in the modern works of Faulkner and Tennessee Williams, for example.

September 16th, 2026

2026-09-16T20:09:56+03:00

HW: ex. 7e p. 58 & ex. 7f p. 59 & ex. 7g p. 59

a still life // many still lifes
a life // many lives

NB! the Hague
The International Court resides in the Hague.

The (River) Thames runs through London.

ilman artikkelia:
space
nature
Heaven
Hell
mankind = humankind
humanity (crimes against humanity = rikokset ihmisyyttä vastaan)
society = yhteiskunta

inaugurate (v.) = vihkiä virkaansa (ihminen tai monumentti tai rakennus)
Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as 47th President of the United States of America on January 20th 2025.

What lovely weather we had today!
The weather was sunny today.

Teksti

2026-09-16T20:12:36+03:00

exercise 16 p. 177

Fill in an article where one is needed.

- so - important a decision
- what an incredible - picture
- such - lovely - paintings
- twice the agreed - amount
- too - rare an occasion
- all - her - best - assets
a surprisingly - horrifying - movie
-/a quite an/- unexpected - result
- what - delicious - food
- such a breathtaking - view

Teksti

2026-09-16T20:21:01+03:00

exercise 21 p. 183

Fill in the articles where needed.

🔒 You will get the correct answers from your teacher.

1. The Official New 7 Wonders of the World have been elected by more than a 100 million votes to represent - global heritage throughout - history. They are in - no particular order.

2. The statue of Jesus stands some 38 metres tall, overlooking Rio de Janeiro. It is one of the world's - best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on - October 12, 1931. It has become a / the symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive - visitors with open arms.

3. The Great Wall of China was built to keep invading Mongol tribes out of - China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is claimed that it is the only one visible from - space.

4. In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on a / the mountain known as - Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River.

5. On the edge of the Arabian desert, - Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabatean empire of - King Aretas IV (9 BC to 40 AD). Masters of water technology, the Nabateans provided their city with - great tunnel constructions and - water chambers. Today, the Palace Tombs of - Petra are - impressive examples of - Middle Eastern culture.

6. Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as an / the economic and political centre of the Mayan civilization. The pyramid of Kukulkan was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

7. This great ampitheatre in the centre of - Rome was built to give favours to - successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Virtually - every modern sports stadium still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through - films and - history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena.

8. The Taj Mahal was built on the orders of - Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honour the memory of his beloved late wife. It is regarded as the most perfect jewel of - Muslim art in - India.

exercise 7b p. 56

2026-09-16T20:24:07+03:00

TAPESCRIPT:
Interviewer: First Nations’ position in Canada today is largely dependent on what happened historically. So one of the things that happened was residential schools. And those were a huge part of Canada's history. Canada is typically viewed as a peaceful country, but it wasn't all entirely peaceful especially regarding Aboriginal people. So residential schools – basically the goal was to assimilate First Nations into the European cultures when the settlers came and started to colonize Canada. So basically one of the goals was to take the Indian out of the child, and they did this in a number of ways. They would remove the child from their families and they would take them to residential schools where they would learn about European culture, and it wasn't so much of a school as a place where they were basically forced out of their own cultures.

September 21st, 2026

2026-09-21T20:04:20+03:00

HW: ex. A & B & C p. 106 - 107; ex. 9a, 9b & 9c p. 76 - 77

Theo is a thirteen-year-old boy.

enthuse (v.) = intoilla
an enthusiast (n.) = intoilija
enthusiasm (n.) = intoilu
enthusiastic (adj.) = innokas
enthusiastically (adv.) = innokkaasti

an autopsy (v.) = ruumiinavaus

startled = frightened = scared = afraid

a corpse (n.) = a dead body

scarcely = barely = hardly = TUSKIN

have a crush on s-b = olla ihastununt jhkn

run into s-b = run actoss s-b = tavata sattumalta

mischievous (adj.) = ilkikurinen
a mischief (n.)

CE = Common Era = AD = Anno Domini = jKr = jaa
BCE = Before Common Era = BC = Before Christ = eKr = eaa

Teksti

2026-09-21T20:08:24+03:00

exercise 7e p. 58

Fill in the tables. You may need to use a dictionary.

Adjective	Verb	Noun	Noun in Finnish
assimilative	assimilate	assimilation	sopeutuminen, sulautuminen
integrative	integrate	integration	sopeuttaminen, sopeutuminen
discriminatory	discriminate	discrimination	syrjintä
prejudiced	-	prejudice	ennakkoluulo
racist	-	racism	rasismi
biased	bias	bias	puolueellisuus, ennakkoasenne
tolerant	tolerate	tolerance	suvaitsevaisuus
xenophobic	-	xenophobia	muukalaisviha
dependent	depend	dependence	riippuvuus
neglected	neglect	neglect	laiminlyönti
intolerant	-	intolerance	suvaitsemattomuus
-	estimate	estimate	arvio
positive	-	positive	positiivinen asia
-	improve	improvement	parannus

exercise 7f p. 59

2026-09-21T20:10:54+03:00

1. Sopeutumisella on tärkeä rooli ihmisten ennakkoluulojen vähentämisessä.	Integration plays an important role in making people less prejudiced.
2. Rasismi ja muukalaisviha aiheuttavat paljon ongelmia yhteiskunnassa.	Racism and xenophobia cause lots of problems/difficulties in society.
3. Ihmisten ennakkoasenteisiin voidaan vaikuttaa opettamalla heille suvaitsevaisuutta.	People’s biases/prejudices can be influenced by teaching them tolerance.
4. Vanhoja ihmisiä saatetaan syrjiä työelämässä, mikä on väärin.	Old people may be discriminated against in work life / working life, which is wrong.
5. Maahanmuuttajat sopeutetaan heidän uuteen maahansa mahdollisimman nopeasti.	Immigrants are integrated into their new country as soon/quickly as possible.

exercise 7g p. 59

2026-09-21T20:12:59+03:00

1. a. The Sámi are the only indigenous people.
2. b. on the 6th of February.
3. b. 1995
4. b. I love you.
5. a. North Sámi, Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi.
6. a. About 10,000
7. c. Norway
8. c. Around 2000 BCE
9. a. the sun and the moon.
10. c. yoik

September 23rd, 2026

2026-09-23T20:12:46+03:00

HW: ex. 23 p. 188 - 189; ex. 24 p. 189

THE GENITIVE:
1. S-GENETIIVI
käytetään ihmisistä:

Have you seen Fabritius's / Fabritius' painting The Goldfinch?
The Unknown Soldier is Väinö Linna's most famous novel.

It is a girl's dress.
It was a boy's toy.

The singer's voice is amazing. = laulajan ääni
The singers' voices are amazing. = laulajien äänet

NB!
There is too much violence in today's world. = nykyajan maailma
Have you heard today's news?

Yesterday's news is yesterday's news. = eilisen uutiset

She had a four weeks' holiday. = She had a four-week holiday. = She had a holiday that lasted four weeks.

NB! Jack and Jill's mother is a surgeon. = Jackin ja Jillin äiti...
NB! I stayed overnight at the Riedels' (home / house).
Have you ever visited St. Paul's (Cathedral)?
He was at the barber's (salon).

SELVYYDEN VUOKSI voidaan käyttää OF-genetiiviä:
The passenger's destination was Seattle. = The destination of the passenger was Seattle.
The passengers' destination was Seattle. = The destination of the passengers was Seattle.

2. OF-genetiivi
käytetään asioista, elottomista olioista:
talon katto: The roof of the house was leaking.
What is the name of the game? = Mikä on pelin henki?

kirjan kansi: the cover of the book

selvyyden vuoksi:
the complete works of William Shakespeare = William Shakespearen kootut teokset

joskus käytetään adjektiivia genetiivin sijasta:
Ranskan suuri vallankumous: the French revolution
Suomen lippu: the Finnish flag
englannin kieli: the English language

keittiönpöytä: I left the money on the kitchen table.
Suomen tasavalta: the Republic of Finland
Lahden kaupunki: the City of Lahti

dissect (v.) = leikat; leikellä
a dissection

a carcass = a corpse

1900-luvulla = in the 1900s = in the 20th century

Teksti

2026-09-23T20:17:12+03:00

exercise A p. 106

Fill in the crossword.

Clues:

A person who writes novels
A person who tells a story
The main character in a story
A book of your own life written by you
A book that is published online
A brief work of literature
A person who writes poems
A book on your memories
A storyline
Literature that is based on reality
Visualization in a book or a magazine

10.

11.

Teksti

2026-09-23T20:19:45+03:00

exercise B p. 107

Use your analytical skills and decide what the missing word in each analogy is.

Paint is to painting as words are to ~~(f)~~fiction.
Artist is to painting as poet is to ~~(p)~~poem.
Newsreader is to news broadcast as ~~(n)~~narrator is to story.
Producer is to filmmaker as ~~(p)~~publisher is to writer.
Lead actor is to movie as ~~(p)~~protagonist is to novel.
Paragraph is to article as ~~(s)~~stanza is to poem.
Mother is to daughter as ~~(p)~~playwright is to play.
Feedback is to student as ~~(r)~~review is to author.
Photo is to news article as ~~(i)~~illustration is to fairy tale.

Teksti

2026-09-23T20:22:16+03:00

exercise C p. 107

Translate.


1. Kuinka kertomakirjallisuus muuttui 1900-luvulla?	How did prose change in the 20th century?
2. Mikä on romaanin ja novellin ero?	What’s the difference between a novel and a short story?
3. Mitä satuja on julkaistu sähkökirjoina?	Which fairy tales have been published as ebooks?
4. Miksi jotkut kuuluisuudet käyttävät haamukirjoittajia kirjoittamaan omaelämäkertojaan?	Why do some celebrities use ghost writers to write their autobiographies?
5. Kuinka tärkeitä loppusoinnut ovat runoudessa?	How important/significant are rhymes in poetry?
6. Onko yhtään suomalaista romaanikirjailijaa ollut ehdolla Nobel-palkinnon saajaksi?	Have any Finnish novelists been shortlisted / listed for the Nobel Prize?

Teksti

2026-09-23T20:24:40+03:00

exercise 9a p. 76


1. Where are Theo and his mother and what are they doing there?	They are at an art museum (the Metropolitan Museum) exploring works of art.
2. Why does the mother compare the surgeons on the painting to a cocktail party?	They mill around the slab and the corpse like a buffet at a cocktail party.
3. What does the mother think the two men in the back are thinking?	She thinks that they are wondering what the spectators, Theo and his mother, are doing there.
4. According to the mother, why has the painter used light the way he has?	The painter wants to draw the spectators' attention to the painting.
5. What is out of order with the flayed hand?	The skin is off, it's out of proportion to the rest of the body and the thumb is on the wrong side.
6. What makes it difficult for Theo to see the painting?	There are so many Asian tourists in front of the painting.
7. Why doesn’t Theo mind not seeing the painting well enough?	He is more interested in a girl he had seen.
8. What does the girl look like?	She has red hair, brown eyes, a sharp face; she is thin and plain-looking.
9. What makes Theo decide the girl is not a city kid?	Her clothes are too bland and suburban for a city kid.
10. Why do you think the mother’s face lights up at the end of the extract?	(your own answers)

Teksti

2026-09-23T20:26:57+03:00

exercise 9b p. 76


1. a huge fan of paintings and drawings	a great art enthusiast
2. glowing from somewhere inside it	shining its own light source
3. he wishes for us to observe it	he wants to draw our eye to it
4. unreasonably large compared to other parts of the carcass	all out of proportion to the rest of the body
5. not on the right side	on the wrong side
6. he did it on purpose	didn't do that by mistake
7. we can’t actually pinpoint why	we can't put our finger on it
8. something is amiss, not right	something really out of order
9. still she had magnetism	yet there was something about her
10. headed for her flute instruction	On her way to music lesson
11. Not fully concentrated on what she was expressing	only half paying attention to what she was saying
12. not even glancing at the speaker	without looking at me

Teksti

2026-09-23T20:30:00+03:00

exercise 9c p. 76 - 77

Use the given phrases to fill in the story.

out of proportion ● on the wrong side ●
can’t put your finger on ● a great art enthusiast ●
out of order ● yet there is something about ●
by mistake ● drawing our eye to

My mother is an amateur artist and 1. a great art enthusiast. Her favorite artists are Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. If you have seen any works by them, you’ll know that people in their paintings are not portrayed realistically and some parts of their bodies are completely 2. out of proportion. In Picasso’s paintings, there is just something odd about the person’s face but you 3. can’t put your finger on what it is. We know that these things didn’t happen 4. by mistake, but still we wonder what the reason is. Is it the artist’s way of 5. drawing our eye to a detail or does he just want things to be 6. out of order so that we are disturbed and forced to think about the painting? I was apprehensive when I heard that my mother was planning to paint a portrait of me and my fiancé as a wedding gift. 7. Yet there is something about the idea of having your picture painted instead of just being photographed. Would she do something odd, like paint my thumb 8. on the wrong side of my hand? In the end, it turned out great — one nose and two eyes per person, and the thumbs all in the right places.

Teksti

2026-09-23T20:35:24+03:00

exercise 9d p. 77

Listen to the analysis of Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp. Match each letter in the picture with a name of a surgeon according to what you hear.

🔒 You will get the correct answers from your teacher.

Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The surgeons:

Nicolaes Tulp c
Hartman Hartmanszoon b
Frans van Loenen a
Adriaan Slabberaan f
Jacob Koolvelt e
Matthijs Calkoen h
Jacob Block d
Jacob de Wit g

exercise 9d p. 77 / TAPESCRIPT

2026-09-23T20:32:44+03:00

The eight surgeons

In Rembrandt’s composition, the seven spectators are placed in the left half of the picture: only the lecturer Dr Tulp stands on the right. The corpse is placed diagonally in the painting. // 1

In the background to the right, Hartman Hartmanszoon holds a piece of paper where the names of the seven observers are written. // 2

Behind stands Frans van Loenen, who looks out at us and appears to direct our attention as viewers to the actual dissection. // 3

To the left stands Adriaan Slabberaan, who casts a glance at the open textbook on the far right side of the painting. One gets the distinct feeling that he is about to look back at the prepared body after having checked how this is described in the book. // 4

To the far left is the portrait of Jacob Koolvelt which was added later. He looks straight at Dr Tulp and appears to be listening to what is being said. Some think that someone other than Rembrandt added his portrait later. // 5

Matthijs Calkoen, the red-haired surgeon nearest Dr Tulp, is staring intensely at Tulp’s left hand. // 6

Jacob Block, behind him, is doing likewise, while Jacob de Wit is bending forward to see the dissected corpse that Dr Tulp is lecturing about. // 7, 8

exericise 9f p. 79

2026-09-23T20:38:44+03:00

1. distressed
2. He had problems with walking.
3. at home
4. She didn't want to look at it.
5. He painted many scenes of the destruction at Delft.
6. Some of his paintings have survived.

TAPESCRIPT:
I was trailing along behind my mother, only half paying attention to what she was saying, when she stopped in front of a painting so suddenly that I almost ran into her.

”Oh, sorry!” she said , without looking at me, stepping back to make room. Her face was like someone had turned a light into it.

”This is the one I was talking about,” she said ”Isn’t it amazing?”

I inclined my head in my mother’s direction, in an attitude of attentive listening, while my eyes wandered back to the girl. She was accompanied by a funny old white-haired character who I guessed from his sharpness of face was related to her, her grandfather maybe: houndstooth coat, long narrow lace-up shoes as shiny as glass. His eyes were close-set, and his nose beaky and birdlike; he walked with a limp - in fact, his whole body listed to one side, one shoulder higher than the other; and if his slump had been any more pronounced, you might have said he was a hunchback. But all the same there was something elegant about him. And clearly he adored the girl from the amused and companionable way he hobbled at her side, very careful where he put his feet, his head inclined her direction. // 1, 2

”This is just about the first painting I ever really loved,” my mother was saying. ”You’ll never believe it, but it was in a book I used to take out of the library when I was a kid. I used to sit on the floor by my bed and stare at it for hours, completely fascinated – that little guy! And I mean, actually it’s incredible how much you can learn about a painting by spending a lot of time with a reproduction, even not a very good reproduction. I started off loving the bird, the way you’d love a pet or something, and ended up loving the way he was painted.” She laughed. ”The Anatomy Lesson was in the same book actually, but it scared the pants off me. I used to slam the book shut when I opened it to that page by mistake.”

The girl and the old man had come up next to us. Self-consciously, I leaned forward and looked at the painting. It was a small picture, the smallest in the exhibition, and the simplest: a yellow finch, against a plain, pale ground, chained to a perch by its twig of an ankle. // 3, 4

“It was a famous tragedy in Dutch history,” my mother was saying. ”A huge part of the town was destroyed.”

”What?”

”The disaster at Delft. That killed Fabritius. Did you hear the teacher back there telling the children about it?”

I had. There had been a trio of ghastly landscapes, by a painter named Egbert van der Poel, different views of the same smouldering wasteland: burnt ruined houses, a windmill with tattered sails, crows wheeling in smoky skies. An official looking lady had been explaining loudly to a group of middle-school kids that a gunpowder factory exploded at Delft in the 1600s, that the painter had been so haunted and obsessed by the destruction of his city that he painted it over and over.

”Well, Egbert was Fabritius’s neighbor, he sort of lost his mind after the powder explosion, at least that’s how it looks to me, but Fabritius was killed and his studio was destroyed. Along with almost all his paintings, except this one.” She seemed to be waiting for me to say something, but when I didn’t, she continued: ”He was one of the greatest painters of his day, in one of the greatest ages of painting. Very very famous in his time. It’s sad though, because maybe only five or six paintings have survived, of all his work. All the rest of it is lost – everything he ever did.” // 5, 6