Exploring Writing 2nd Edition by John Langan

Exercise 17

Fill in each blank with the appropriate time transition from the box. Use each transition once.
then first after as later
A Victory for Big Brother
In one of the most terrifying scenes in all of literature, George Orwell in his classic novel 1984 describes how a government known as Big Brother destroys a couple's love. The couple, Winston and Julia, fall in love and meet secretly, knowing the government would not approve. _______ informers turn them in, a government agent named O'Brien takes steps to end their love. _______ he straps Winston down and explains that he has discovered Winston's worst fear. _______ he sets a cage with two giant, starving sewer rats on the table next to Winston. He says that when he presses a lever, the door of the cage will slide up, and the rats will shoot out like bullets and bore straight into Winston's face. _______ Winston's eyes dart back and forth, revealing his terror, O'Brien places his hand on the lever. Winston knows that the only way out is for Julia to take his place. Suddenly, he hears his own voice screaming, "Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia!" Orwell does not describe Julia's interrogation, but when Julia and Winston see each other _______, they realize that each has betrayed the other. Their love is gone. Big Brother has won.