• What are the new year resolutions? Adrian Mole promised that: − He would help blind people to cross the road. − He would hang his trousers up. − He would put his tapes back in their covers. − He wouldn't start smoking. − He would stop squeezing the spots on his face. − He would be nice to the dog. − He would help the poor. − He wouldn't drink alcohol. • Why does Adrian think that his spot is growing? He thinks that his spot is growing because his mother doesn't know about vitamins, and his diet is very poor. • When the dog has de operation, what does de vet find? Why? The vet finds a lot of disgusting things. There are also plastic pirates from Adrian's father's boat. He finds the pirates because a few days ago, the dog broke the model ship that his father had been building for three months. • Exactly how old is Adrian at the beginning of his diary? Adrian is 13 ¾ years old. • Why did Adrian think Nigel was being polite when he told him that he was going to the doctor? He thought that Nigel was being polite because he said he couldn't see Adrian's spot. • Why did Adrian decide to go and see a private doctor? Because the other doctor didn't examine his spot, he said Adrian looked fine. • Adrian took some comic books to a `poor family'.Why did he think they were poor? He thought they were poor because they only had a black−and−white TV. • Why did Adrian think he would probably be a teenage criminal out on the streets? Because his mother was looking for a job. • Why does Adrian have to visit a man called Bert Baxter? Because he is in a group at school that helps old people, and he got an old man called Bert Baxter. • Where did Adrian's mother get a job? She got a job in the same place as Mr. Lucas. • Why is Adrian angry with Nigel? Because he is his best friend and he's going out with Pandora. • Adrian says that his father is cross because Mr Lucas doesn't want to see him. What do you think the real reason is? Adrian's father is jealous because his wife is always with Mr Lucas. • Why does Mr Lucas stay with Adrian's family? Mr Lucas stays with them because his wife has taken all the furniture. • Why does Adrian wish he knew karate? Because Barry Kent said he would hit him if he didn't give him money every day. • What happened when Adrian's father went fishing? What happened when he arrived home? When Adrian's father went fishing Mr Lucas went to Adrian's house for dinner. He ate three pieces of his father's favourite cake. Then, when his father arrived home and came in the front door, Mr Lucas went out the back door. There was no cake left for Adrian's father, and his mother gave him a cheese sandwich for his supper. His father threw it at the wall and said he wasn't a mouse, he was a man, and his mother began to cry. • Where does Pandora live? How does Adrian find this out? Pandora lives on Elm Tree Avenue. Adrian knows it because he saw Pandora coming out of a house when he was delivering newspapers. • How did Adrian find out his parents were separating? 1

He found out his parents were separating when he heard his father speaking with his grandmother in the kitchen. • How did Adrian's grandmother feel about his parents' divorce? She was quite happy that his parents were getting a divorce. • Why did Adrian hide his father's shaving razor? Because he thought he was suicidal. • What did Adrian think after his weekend with Nigel? He thought that weekend with Nigel had opened his eyes: he had lived in poverty for 14 years; he lived in a horrible house, ate terrible food and didn't get enough pocket money. He thought his father would have to look for a better job. • Why did Adrian tell his mother about his father and Doreen Slater? He told her about Doreen because he wanted to make her jealous. • What was Adrian's reaction when the postman told him that Adrian's mother was coming to visit on Saturday? He thought he would probably report the postman for reading other people's postcards. • What did Adrian's father do with the flowers he had bought for his wife? He gave them to Doreen Slater. • What happened when Adrian's grandmother found Adrian and his father reading by candlelight? She went mad and said they had to go to her house. She also gave Adrian's father a cheque for the electricity bill. • Who solved Adrian's problem with Barry Kent? Adrian's grandmother. • Why does Adrian hope that Bert Baxter doesn't die? Because he likes him. And also because he doesn't have anything to wear to a funeral. • Why does Pandora think Adrian's father is racist? Because when an Indian family moved into the Lucas' old house his father said it was `the beginning of the end of their street'. • What did Pandora say she had done with the money for Adrian's present? She said she had given all her money to a poor man. • Why did Pandora tell Adrian they shouldn't see each other for a while? Because she thought they were getting too serious. • Why is Adrian so worried about the operation to remove his tonsils? Because his grandmother and Bert Baxter told him about someone who bled to death after his tonsils were removed. • Why did Adrian burn the telephone bill at the bonfire party? He burned it because he didn't want his father to see how big it was. • Why did Adrian's mother leave Mr Lucas? She left him because he treated her like a sex object, and he expected her to cook for him. And also because she was fond of his husband. • Why did they have Christmas lunch four hours late? Because Adrian's mother puts the turkey under the hot water instead of putting it in the oven. • Why did Adrian believe Bert and Queenie's wedding was a waste of time? Because they are very old. • Why did Pandora refuse to make love with Adrian? Because she wasn't going to risk becoming a single parent just because of a few spots. • Why didn't Pandora send Adrian a birthday card? Because she found out that Adrian liked Barbara and got very upset. • What happened to Adrian when he sniffed the glue on the model plane? His nose stuck to the plane and he had to go to the hospital to have it removed. JANUARY

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Adrian is 13 ¾ years old, and he makes his New Year's Resolutions. But he's got a spot on his chin. He feels very bad because his parents are always arguing. His dog is ill because he ate his father's model ship. Mr Lucas, the neighbour visits Adrian's mother every day. Adrian meets a girl called Pandora and falls in love with her, but she starts going out with Nigel, his best friend. Adrian is in a group at school that helps old people, and has to visit an old man called Bert Baxter, but he isn't very nice. Mr and Mrs Lucas are getting a divorce, and Mrs Lucas leaves her husband. Adrian's father is jealous because his wife is always with Mr Lucas. FEBRUARY Adrian's parents keep on shouting each other. His mother doesn't do any housework, she only stays with Mr Lucas and reads sex books. Adrian has his first wet dream. Mr Lucas stays with Adrian's family because his wife has taken all the furniture. He only gets one card for St Valentine's Day, and it's from his mother. Barry Kent hits Adrian if he doesn't give him money every day. On Tuesday 24th, he starts delivering newspapers in Elm Street Avenue and finds out where Pandora lives. MARCH Adrian phones Social Services, asks about home−help for Bert Baxter and says he is his grandson. Adrian's parents are getting a divorce, and they stay in separate rooms. Mr Lucas is selling his house because he wants to buy a bigger one. Pandora and Nigel break up. Mr Lucas fights with Adrian's father because Adrian's mother is going to Sheffield with him. APRIL Adrian is 14 years old. His father tells him he's got a friend from work called Doreen Slater. Adrian stays a weekend at Nigel's house and he drinks whisky for first time. his mother sends him a postcard and wants him to visit her and Mr Lucas. Adrian goes to Sheffield and stays there for a few days, then, he returns home. MAY Adrian receives a postcard from his mother that says she's coming to see him. He's father is very happy because he thinks she's going to stay forever. But she comes with Mr Lucas. A man turns off Adrian's house electricity because they owed £95.79, but his grandma pays the bill and lets Adrian and his father stay at her house for a few days. Then she speaks with Barry's father and he returns her Adrian's money. JUNE Adrian's father loses his job and Doreen Slater stays at Adrian's home to comfort him. She's got a two−year−old son called Maxwell. Pandora likes Adrian. Bert Baxter is very ill and he has to go to the hospital. Pandora and Adrian visit him, and they exchange their first passionate kiss. JULY Adrian has tonsillitis for a week and his mother visits him. An Indian family move into the Lucas' old house and Adrian's father doesn't like them. Adrian goes to a party and he gets drunk. Bert escaped from the hospital and now he stays with Adrian. Then he moves with the Indian family. Pandora goes to Tunisia and sends Adrian a postcard. AUGUST Pandora phones from Tunisia because her return flight is delayed, but when she arrives, she goes to the 3

swimming pool with Adrian. SEPTEMBER Bert moves back to his own house. Adrian starts school and he's got to buy a new uniform because he has grown. It is his mother's birthday, she's 37 and she is still with Mr Lucas. OCTOBER Bert has been taken to an old people's home. Adrian's dog has disappeared and his grandma finds it in her house. Adrian goes to a survival trip. He receives a letter from the hospital because he's got an operation to remove his tonsils. NOVEMBER Adrian leaves the hospital and returns home. He goes to a bonfire party with Pandora and burns the phone bill. Bert has a girlfriend called Queenie. Adrian's mother returns home and his father is very happy. DECEMBER There is no phone line in Adrian's house, his father goes mad, and he's got to pay the phone bill. He visits Bert and invites him and Queenie for Christmas Day. They have Christmas lunch together and Adrian's parents give him a racing bike. JANUARY Adrian makes his New Year's resolutions. He gets a wedding invitation from Bert and Queenie, they get married on Saturday 16th, and they have their honeymoon in the old people's home. FEBRUARY Adrian's mother gives his father an ultimatum, and his father starts looking for a job. Pandora sends Adrian a lovely St Valentine's Day card and his mother receives another one from Mr Lucas, but she throws it away. She has stopped smoking. MARCH Adrian's father gives up smoking and he finds a job. Adrian is loved by a girl called Elizabeth, but he doesn't want to go out with her. Pandora and Elizabeth have a fight at school. Adrian goes to a meeting on politics and meets Barbara. He says to Nigel he likes her, but he tells the whole school and Pandora gets very jealous. APRIL Barbara doesn't want to see Adrian any more. Adrian is 15 years old, and Bert sends him a model aeroplane, but Pandora doesn't give him a birthday card. When Adrian was building the plane he sniffed of glue and had to go to the hospital. Then, Pandora said she would visit him.

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