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CHEAT!

Lynne is getting impatient while waiting for

Headmaster Velos to announce the results of
the short story competition. She hopes it will be
a tie. Geoff is the winner for his story about an
elephant romping in the park. Lynne comes in a
close second.

Lynne, although disappointed with the results,

puts on a brave front and congratulates Geoff
as he comes down from the dais.

At home, Lynne who is still deeply disappointed

puts away her story. Her dinner does not taste
good at all. Back in school, she is back to
normal and concentrates on making to the
basketball team. She could even smile at
Geoff's jokes and bantering.

Lynne comes across writer Bradburie's elephant

story in the park. Immediately, she assumes
that Geoff has copied the story and claimed it to
be original.

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Convinced that Geoff has copied this story, she

is in two minds about exposing him to the
headmaster. She grapples with the questions of
how, when and who to ask for help to approach
the headmaster with her discovery. Then she
decides not to say anything.

At a class discussion on careers, Geoff states

he prefers to be a lawyer rather than a writer.
He is teased by classmates about his choice of
career and inadvertently, Lynne mentions the
name Bradburie in a sudden burst of anger.
Geoff is upset and checks out all of Bradburie's
stories.

Lynne is called to Headmaster Velos's office.

Geoff is there with the Holmes-Watkins Medal
and a Bradburie book on the table. Headmaster
Velos explains that Geoff has confessed that he
might have taken his story from Bradburie's
book. So the winner is Lynne with her original
story. Geoff will not be disqualified but moved to
second placing.

Lynne is upset as she does not want to win the

prize this way - as an afterthought. Then, she
leans against the locker and starts to have
doubts about her own story being original!

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Characters and Characteristics

Character trait Evidence

Lynne Webbings Could hardly wait for
the result of the
Impatient
competition to be
announced.
Although bitterly
Gracious in accepting disappointed, she
defeat congratulates Geoff
sincerely on his win.
Works very hard to
write a dramatic story
Hardworking
about a sheepdog in a
flood.
Reads a story by the
author William
Quick to jump to Bradburie that is similar
conclusions to Geoff's story and
immediately assumes
he has copied it.
Blurts out Bradburie's
Quick tempered name in front of Geoff
in anger
Does not want to win
the medal after finding
Fair
out that Geoff did not
cheat
She wondered in which
book she had read a
Self-aware
story about a sheepdog
in a flood.
She did not want Geoff
Kind to be disqualified for
what he had done.

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Character trait Evidence

Geoff Bolder Funny and good Jokes with Lynne about
humoured how Mr Velos chose
the winner of the
competition.
Ambitious Wants to be a barrister
when he grows up as
he believes he will
make more money.
Inquisitive Tries to find out more
about Bradburie's story
on his own after Lynne
mentions his name.
Honest and brave Confesses to Mr Velos
and asks to be
disqualified once he
has doubts about the
originality of his story.
Remorseful Truly feels sorry and
apologises to Lynne for
the whole incident.
Fair He decided that he
should be disqualified
because of what he
had done.
Practical Wanted to be a
barrister so he could
earn more money.
Sensitive Was not happy , when
found out Lynne was
not happy with him.
Valued Friendship Remained friends with
Lynne.

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Character trait Evidence

Headmaster Velos Willing to reverse his
decision because he
Fair
believes that Lynne is a
more deserving winner
Refuses to disqualify
Geoff because he
Reasonable believes that the two
stories are not entirely
similar
Apologises to both
Apologetic Lynne and Geoff for
the mix-up
He was caught in a
difficult position. He
had made a wrong
Embarrassed
decision in picking the
winner of the short
story competition

Character trait Evidence

Marge Lynne does not have
enough courage to
expose Geoff and
initially wants Marge to
Bold
do it. This suggests
that Marge is bold
enough to handle the
matter.
Teases Geoff for being
Outspoken
money-minded
Wants to be a Grand
Adventurous
Prix driver

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Matheson
Character trait Evidence
Leads the class
Supportive discussion on career
and ambition
Knows that Geoff won
the short story
Cares about his competition and
students encourages him to
pursue a career in
writing

Themes
Fill in the blanks accordingly.

THEMES

__________________ _________________ __________________

__________________ _________________ __________________
__________________ _________________ __________________

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1. Honesty and integrity

• Geoff later believes that he may have gotten the idea for his short story from William Bradburie's story.

• Although he did not do it on purpose, he still asks to be disqualified as he thinks that it is not his original
work.

2 Accepting disappointments graciously

• Lynne is bitterly disappointed when Geoff wins the first prize. Yet, she manages to hide her
disappointment and accepts the decision graciously.

• Soon, she is able to forget about her disappointment and put the whole incident behind her.

3 Friendship and competition

• Lynne and Geoff do not let the short story competition get in the way of their friendship.

• After the winner is announced, both are friendly towards each other.

• Lynne congratulates Geoff graciously and Geoff is humble about his achievement.

4 Originality of ideas

• In the beginning, both Geoff and Lynne are convinced that they have written original stories.

• Later, Geoff realises that he may have gotten the idea from a story that he had previously read.

• Then, Lynne too questions the originality of her own story, which poses a question to the reader, "Are all
our ideas entirely original?"

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______________

______________

______________

______________ ______________

______________ ______________

______________
Moral ______________

Values

______________ ______________

______________ ______________

______________ ______________

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Exercise 1

Read the following sentences and rearrange them to show the correct sequence of the story. The
first sentence has been done for you. Rewrite the sentences in the space provided.

(a) Lynne is disappointed but she controls herself and accepts the situation.

(b) Geoff informs Headmaster Velos he might have taken the idea for his story

from Bradburie.

(c) Headmaster Velos announces Geoff as the first place winner.

(d) Their positions are reversed and Lynne's story being original is now given first

placing.

(e) The students are waiting for the results of the short story competition. 1

(f) However, Lynne is upset at her empty victory and she wonders if her story is

original.

(g) Lynne's feelings change and she becomes suspicious when she reads

Bradburie's story about an elephant.

(h) Lynne is impatient and wants the headmaster to cut short his speech.

(i) Geoff feels uneasy when he hears the name 'Bradburie' from Lynne.

(j) Feeling that Geoff might have cheated, Lynne debates with herself on how to

expose Geoff.

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Exercise 2

Look at the pictures below. In your own words, write an event that happens at each place.

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Exercise 3

Answer the following questions.

1. Who is the writer of the short story?

______________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the main setting for the story and whom does the story revolve around?

______________________________________________________________________________

3. The announcement:

(a) Who is making an announcement and what is it all about?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

(b) How would you describe Lynne's feelings?

______________________________________________________________________________

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(c) Why do you think she feels the way she does?

______________________________________________________________________________

(d) What are the results as made in the announcement?

______________________________________________________________________________

4. What are the subjects in Lynne's and Geoff's stories?

______________________________________________________________________________

5. How does Lynne behave when the results are announced? What does this tell you about
Lynne?

______________________________________________________________________________

6. 'And after that Lynne was back to normal'

(a) What is not normal about Lynne before this?

______________________________________________________________________________

(b) List the three things that Lynne does to show things are back to normal.

______________________________________________________________________________

(c) Would you say that Lynne is back to normal after she reads a story by author William
Bradburie? Give a reason for your answer.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

7. (a) How does Geoff answer Mr. Matheson's question about his future career?

______________________________________________________________________________

(b) What does Marge say Geoff might miss out on if he does not become a writer?

______________________________________________________________________________

(c) What does Lynne say in addition to Marge's comment?

______________________________________________________________________________

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(d) How does this affect Geoff?

______________________________________________________________________________

8. Conclusion of story

(a) What does Geoff tell Headmaster Velos?

______________________________________________________________________________

(b) How does Geoff's confession affect Lynne? State the two effects.

______________________________________________________________________________

References

1.Christine Tan(2016) Selected Poems, Short Story and Drama Form 2, Malaysia Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn.
Bhd

2.Rohini Shanta & Racheal Anthony (2017)Light on Lit Form2, Malaysia Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd

3.Y.S. Tham (2016) Let’s Score in Literature Selecteed Poems Short Story & Drama Form 2, Malaysia
Ilmu Bakti

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