📖 Chapter 3: The Pool of Tears

Alice swam about in the pool she had made with her own tears. “How strange everything is today!” she said aloud. “Yesterday things were normal. But today—am I myself, or have I changed into someone else?”

Just then she heard a splash. She turned and saw a Mouse paddling nearby. Alice felt greatly relieved. “Oh! Perhaps it can help me,” she thought.

She spoke gently: “O Mouse, do you know the way out of this pool?”

The Mouse looked at her suspiciously but said nothing. Alice remembered she had once read in her brother’s book that mice could understand French. So she asked, “Où est ma chatte?” (“Where is my cat?”).

The poor Mouse leapt out of the water in terror. “Do you mean your cat?” it cried, trembling. “Our family hates cats! If you had a cat here, I would be gone in an instant!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” said Alice quickly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. My cat Dinah is very good at catching mice, though,” she added without thinking.

The Mouse shivered. “Talk about cats again, and I shall swim away!”

Alice tried to change the subject. “Do you like dogs?” she asked. But this made the Mouse angrier. “Dogs are just as bad!” it snapped. “Please speak no more of them!”

Alice begged the Mouse to forgive her, and soon they swam together to the edge of the pool. By this time, many other creatures had fallen in: a Duck, a Dodo, a Lory (a kind of parrot), and several others. The pool was crowded with wet, unhappy animals.

They all climbed out onto the bank, dripping with water. Everyone shivered. “We must get dry,” said the Dodo. “The best way is a Caucus Race.”

“A Caucus Race? What is that?” asked Alice.

The Dodo looked very serious. “The best way to explain is to do it.”

So all the animals formed a large circle. “Run when you like, stop when you like,” said the Dodo. Then they began running in all directions, starting and stopping whenever they pleased. There was no clear beginning and no end. After about half an hour, they were all dry enough.

“Now, the race is over!” said the Dodo. “Everybody has won, and all must have prizes.”

“But who will give the prizes?” asked the animals.

“She must,” said the Dodo, pointing to Alice.

Alice searched in her pocket and found a box of sweets she had carried. She handed them out, one to each animal. “But what about the prize for me?” she asked.

“You must give it yourself,” said the Dodo.

Alice had nothing left except a thimble. She handed it to the Dodo, who gave it back to her with a solemn little speech. Everyone clapped politely.

The creatures then crowded around Alice, asking questions. But soon the Mouse grew impatient. “Let me tell you my tale,” it said. “It will explain why I hate cats and dogs.”

Alice listened eagerly, but she could not stop herself from giggling. The Mouse’s “tale” curled into the shape of a long, thin tail!

“You’re not listening!” cried the Mouse angrily. “You are laughing at me!”

Alice tried to explain, but the Mouse swam off in a huff. The other animals soon drifted away too, leaving Alice alone again.

“Oh dear,” she sighed. “Things get stranger every minute.”

---

📘 Glossary

• Suspiciously – in a way that shows doubt or distrust

• Trembling – shaking with fear or cold

• Shivered – shook slightly from cold or fear

• Caucus Race – a silly, disorganized race with no clear rules

• Circle – a round shape or group formation

• Prizes – rewards given to winners

• Thimble – a small metal cap used to protect the finger while sewing

• Solemn – very serious

• Clapped – hit hands together to show approval

• In a huff – angrily or in bad temper

---

❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Who did Alice first meet while swimming in her pool of tears?

2. Why did the Mouse become frightened when Alice spoke French?

3. What mistake did Alice make when talking about her cat Dinah?

4. Which other animals were in the pool?

5. What was the Dodo’s solution for getting dry?

6. How was the Caucus Race unusual?

7. Who gave out the prizes at the end of the race?

8. What prize did Alice receive?

9. Why did the Mouse become angry at Alice?

10. How did Alice feel when the Mouse and animals left her?

---

✅ Answers

1. A Mouse.

2. Because Alice mentioned her cat.

3. She said Dinah was good at catching mice.

4. A Duck, a Dodo, a Lory, and other animals.

5. To hold a Caucus Race.

6. There was no start or finish; everyone ran however they liked.

7. Alice.

8. A thimble.

9. Because Alice giggled at its “tale” (which looked like a tail).

10. Lonely and confused.

 

🎯 IELTS Writing Task 2 Question

Some people believe that remote working benefits both employees and society. Others argue that working from the office is more effective.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

---

📝 Sample Essay (Band 8–9, ~285 words)

In recent years, the rise of digital technology has transformed the way people work. While many believe that remote working offers advantages for individuals and society, others argue that traditional office-based employment remains more effective. Both perspectives will be examined before presenting my view.

On the one hand, remote work provides flexibility and convenience for employees. Without the need to commute, workers can save time and money, which often improves work-life balance. For instance, parents can spend more time with their children while still maintaining productivity. Moreover, society benefits when fewer people travel daily, as this reduces traffic congestion and pollution. In this sense, remote working contributes not only to individual well-being but also to environmental sustainability.

On the other hand, working from the office is considered by some to be more efficient. Face-to-face communication fosters teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving in ways that virtual meetings may not. Furthermore, being physically present allows managers to supervise staff more effectively and maintain organisational culture. For example, many innovative ideas in companies like Google and Apple have emerged from spontaneous office discussions rather than planned online meetings.

In my opinion, a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both systems is ideal. Remote work is suitable for tasks requiring concentration and independence, while office work is better for collaboration and networking. If balanced correctly, this model can benefit employees, companies, and society as a whole.

In conclusion, while remote working offers flexibility and societal advantages, office-based work promotes collaboration and innovation. A combination of both methods is likely to represent the future of employment.

---

🔑 Useful Vocabulary

• Work-life balance

• Flexibility and convenience

• Traffic congestion / environmental sustainability

• Face-to-face communication

• Organisational culture

• Hybrid approach / collaboration / networking

• Productivity / efficiency / supervision

---

🔗 Linking Words

• Contrast: while, whereas, however, on the other hand

• Addition: in addition, moreover, furthermore

• Cause/Effect: therefore, as a result, consequently

• Examples: for instance, for example, such as

• Conclusion: in conclusion, overall, to sum up

---

✍️ Guidelines for Writing This Essay

1. Plan (5 minutes)

• View 1 (remote work): saves time, improves work-life balance, reduces pollution.

• View 2 (office work): teamwork, supervision, creativity.

• Opinion: hybrid approach works best.

• Outline:

  • Intro: paraphrase + outline + thesis

  • BP1: Benefits of remote work (with example)

  • BP2: Benefits of office work (with example)

  • BP3: Opinion (hybrid model)

  • Conclusion: summarise & restate opinion

---

2. Structure

• Introduction: Paraphrase topic + outline both views + thesis.

• Body Paragraph 1: Remote work benefits (topic sentence, support, example).

• Body Paragraph 2: Office work advantages (topic sentence, support, example).

• Body Paragraph 3: Your opinion (hybrid).

• Conclusion: Summarise main points and restate thesis.

---

3. Topic Sentences

• BP1: “Remote working offers greater flexibility and benefits society through reduced commuting.”

• BP2: “By contrast, working from the office is seen as more effective for teamwork and creativity.”

• BP3: “In my view, a hybrid model combines the strengths of both approaches.”

---

4. Tips for Learners

• Keep a balanced tone: discuss both views fairly before giving your opinion.

• Use specific examples (Google, parents saving commute time, pollution reduction).

• Maintain a formal style — avoid casual words like kids or bosses.

• Ensure your conclusion is short and strong — no new ideas.

• Use varied linking words to improve cohesion.

 

📖 Chapter 2: The Hall of Doors

Alice stood in the long hall, staring at the little golden key in her hand. She longed to enter the beautiful garden, but she was far too big to fit through the tiny door.

Then she noticed a small bottle standing on the glass table. Around its neck was a paper label with the words “DRINK ME” beautifully printed.

Alice looked at it carefully. “It doesn’t say poison,” she said, “so it must be safe.” She tasted it and found it delicious—like a mixture of cherry tart, custard, pineapple, roast turkey, and hot buttered toast. In a few moments she began to shrink!

She grew smaller and smaller until she was only ten inches high. “Now I can get into the garden!” she cried with delight.

She ran to the door, but—oh no! She had left the key on the glass table, which was now far above her head. She tried to climb one of the table legs, but it was too slippery. Poor Alice sat down and began to cry.

After a while, she noticed a small glass box lying under the table. Inside it was a tiny cake with the words “EAT ME” marked in currants.

“Well, I’ll try it,” said Alice. “If it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key. If it makes me smaller, I can creep under the door. Either way, I’ll get into the garden.”

She ate a little piece and waited. At once she began to grow. She grew and grew until her head touched the ceiling of the hall! She picked up the little key, but now she was far too tall to go through the tiny door.

Alice sat down and began to cry again. Her tears poured out until they formed a great pool all around her. Soon the water was several inches deep, and Alice found herself swimming.

As she splashed about, she heard something nearby. It was the White Rabbit again, still dressed in his waistcoat, muttering, “Oh my ears and whiskers! How late it’s getting!” He hurried off without noticing Alice.

She tried to call after him, but her voice echoed strangely in the hall. “Oh, what shall I do?” she sobbed, treading water in her own pool of tears.

The adventure was becoming stranger and stranger, and Alice wondered what would happen next.

---

📘 Glossary

• Label – a piece of paper attached to something that gives information

• Custard – a sweet, creamy dessert made with eggs and milk

• Shrink – to become smaller

• Slippery – smooth and difficult to hold onto

• Currants – small dried fruits used in cakes

• Creep – to move slowly and carefully through a small space

• Ceiling – the top inside surface of a room

• Pool – a small area filled with water

• Treading water – moving arms and legs to stay afloat while swimming

• Whiskers – the long hairs on the face of a rabbit or cat

---

❓ Comprehension Questions

1. What words were written on the bottle Alice found?

2. Why did Alice think it was safe to drink?

3. What happened after Alice drank from the bottle?

4. Why couldn’t Alice enter the garden even after shrinking?

5. What food did Alice find under the table?

6. What was written on the cake?

7. What happened after Alice ate some of the cake?

8. Why did Alice begin to cry the second time?

9. What strange thing happened with her tears?

10. Who did Alice see again at the end of the chapter?

---

✅ Answers

1. “DRINK ME”.

2. Because the label didn’t say poison.

3. She shrank until she was only ten inches tall.

4. Because she had left the key on the high glass table.

5. A little cake in a glass box.

6. “EAT ME”.

7. She grew very tall until her head touched the ceiling.

8. Because she was too big to fit through the tiny door.

9. Her tears formed a large pool, and she had to swim in it.

10. The White Rabbit.