Annales gratuites Bac L : A precocious child

    Midway through the ninth year of Irma's employment, Dr Marilyn Lattimore came down with an
    uncharacteristic cold and was home for two days.
    It was in the breakfast room that the conversation took place. Dr Marilyn sat reading the paper and
    sipping tea and dabbing at her red, drippy nose. Irma was in the adjoining kitchen, had removed
 5  the covers of the stove-burners and was scrubbing them single-mindedly.
    "Do you believe this, Irma? A week of surgeries and I come down with this arrogant little virus." Dr
    Marilyn's voice, normally husky, now bordered on masculine.
    "Back in medical school, Irma, when I rotated through pediatrics, I caught every virus known to
    mankind. And later, of course, when I had the children. But it's been years since I've been sick and
10  I find this positively insulting. I'm sure some patient gave it to me. I'd just like to know who so I
    could thank them personally."
    Dr Marilyn was a pretty woman, small, with honey-colored hair, who looked much younger than her
    age. She walked two miles every morning at six a.m.
    Irma said, "You strong, you get better soon."
15  "I certainly hope so ... thank you for that bit of optimism, Irma ... would you be a dear and get me
    some of the fig preserve for my toast?"
    Irma fetched the jar and brought it over.
    "Thank you, dear."
    "Something else, Doctor Em?"
20  "No, thank you, dear. Are you all right, Irma?"
    Irma forced a smile. "Yes."
    "You're sure?"
    "Sure, yes, Doctor Em."
    "Hmm ... don't spare me because of my cold. If there's something on your mind, get it out."
25  Irma started to head back to the kitchen.
    "Dear," Dr Marilyn called after her, "I know you well, and it's obvious something's on your mind. You
    wore that exact same look until we had your papers taken care of. Then you did it again, worrying
    about whether or not the amnesty would take effect. Something's definitely on your mind"
    "I fine, Doctor Em."
30  "Irma"
    "I worry about Isaac."
    "Isaac? Is he all right?"
    "Yes, he very good. Very smart."
    Irma broke down in tears.
35  "He's smart and you're crying?" said Dr Marilyn. "Am I missing something?"

    They had tea and fig jam on thin toast and Irma told Dr Marilyn all of it. How Isaac kept coming
    home from school crying with frustration and boredom. How he'd finished all of his sixth-grade(1)
    work in two months, taken it upon himself to "borrow" seventh- and eighth- and even some ninth-
    grade books and had sped through them as well. Finally, he was caught reading a pre-algebra
40  workbook slipped out of a supply room and was sent to the principal's office for "unauthorized study
    and irregular behavior".
    Irma visited the school, tried to handle it on her own. The principal had nothing but disdain for
    Irma's simple clothes and thick accent; her firm suggestion was that Isaac stop being "precocious"
    and concentrate on conforming to "class standards".
45  When Irma tried to point out that the boy was well ahead of class standards, the principal cut her
    off and informed her that Isaac was just going to have to be content repeating everything.
    "That's outrageous," said Dr Marilyn. "Absolutely outrageous. There, there, dry your eyes ... three
    years ahead? On his own?'"
    "Two, some three."
50  "'My eldest, John, was somewhat like that. Not quite as smart as your Isaac seems to be, but
    school was always tedious for him because he moved too fast. Oh, dear, we had some dustups
    with him ... Now John's the chief resident(2) in psychiatry at Stanford(3)." Dr Marilyn brightened.
    "Perhaps your Isaac could be a physician. Wouldn't that be fabulous, Irma?"
    Irma nodded, half listening as Dr Marilyn prattled.
55  "A child that bright, Irma, there's no limit .... Give me that principal's number and I'Il have a little
    chat with her." She sneezed, coughed, wiped her nose. Laughed. "With this baritone, I'II sound
    positively authoritative."
    Irma didn't speak.
    "What's the number, dear?"
60  Silence.
    "Irma?"
    "I don' wan' no trouble, Dr Em."
    "You've already got trouble, Irma. Now we have to find a solution."

Adapted from Jonathan Kellerman, Twisted, 2005

(1) sixth-grade: correspond à la classe de 6^ème
(2) resident: interne
(3) Stanford (University): université prestigieuse de Californie

Vous traiterez les questions dans l'ordre, en indiquant clairement leur numéro sur votre copie.
Lorsque la réponse doit être développée, le nombre de mots ou d'éléments de réponse sera indiqué dans la question.
En l'absence d'indications, vous répondrez brièvement à la question posée.

1. There are five characters in this passage.
a. Identify them, saying whether they are present or mentioned.
b. Who does Doctor Em (lines 19, 23, 29, 62) refer to?
c. Say how the five characters are connected or related.

PART 1 (lines 1 to 35)

2.
a. Why is Doctor Lattimore at home on that particular day?
b. Pick out two expressions used by Doctor Lattimore, showing how she feels about her condition.
c. Say why she uses these expressions.

3.
a. Quote Doctor Lattimore's words when she suddenly realizes that there is something wrong with Irma.
b. Analyse Irma's reaction, focusing on lines 21 ("Irma forced a smile.") and 25 ("Irma started to head back to the kitchen.") 20/30 words

4.
a. Lines 26 to 30.
Analyse Doctor Lattimore's reaction at that point and comment on the use of italics. 20/30 words
b. Lines 31 to 35.
Is Doctor Lattimore satisfied with Irma's reaction? 20/30 words

PART 2 (lines 36 to the end)

5.
a. In your own words, explain why Isaac comes home from school "crying with frustration and boredom"? (line 37). 30 words
b. The principal reproaches Isaac for "unauthorized study and irregular behavior" (lines 40-41 ). What exactly does she refer to?

6. Describe the way the principal behaved towards Irma when they met. 2 elements

7.
a. How does Dr Lattimore react to the principal's attitude towards Isaac?
b. Why does Dr Lattimore mention her son John in line 50? 20/30 words
c. What solution does Doctor Lattimore propose?

8. Describe and analyse the contrasting attitudes of Irma and Dr Lattimore at the end of the passage. 30/40 words

9. Choose one of the following subjects. 250 words approximately. Give the number of words.
Subject 1
Doctor Lattimore finally decides to pay a visit to the principal. Imagine what happens.
Subject 2
Some parents prefer their children to be taught at home. In your opinion, what are their motivations? Give your point of view.

I - L'ANALYSE ET LES DIFFICULTES DU TEXTE

Les questions sont plutôt habituelles, veillez toutefois à soigner votre expression car beaucoup de questions exigent des réponses rédigées.
Les questions suivent le déroulement chronologique de l'histoire, entre Le Dr Marilyn Lattimore et son employé de maison dont le fils Isaac, surdoué, présente des difficultés d'adaptation dans son école.

II - LES REPONSES ATTENDUES

1.a.
Dr. Marilyn Lattimore: present
Irma: present
Isaac: mentioned
John: mentioned
The principal at Isaac's school: mentioned
1.b.
Doctor Em refers to Marilyn Lattimore.
1.c.
Dr Marilyn Lattimore: Irma's employer
Irma: Dr. Lattimore's housemaid
Isaac: Irma's son
John: Marilyn's eldest son

Part 1 (lines 1 to 35)

2.a.
Dr. Lattimore is sick. She has a cold.
2.b.
l.6: "arrogant little virus"
l.10: "I find it positively insulting"
2.c.
She can't get rid of her cold. As a doctor, she feels powerless, and is being ironic about it. Moreover, she hasn't been sick in years.

3.a.
l.20: "are you all right Irma?"
3.b.
Irma looks embarrassed. She is reluctant to talk about her problems as she may not want to bother Marilyn. Fair enough, Irma thinks Marilyn has enough problems to face for the moment and that she has already helped her in so many ways.

4.a.
She really wants to know what bothers Irma. The latter has been working as her housemaid, for such a long time (l.1) that she knows exactly how she feels ("definitely").
4.b.
She knows Irma is hiding something from her because Isaac is a high achiever at school: he is "very smart" (l.33). However Irma is crying, which looks quite paradoxical.

Part 2 (lines 36 to the end)

5.a.
Isaac, a sixth grade student, feels bored and frustrated because he has gone over his class's curriculum. He therefore feels unsatisfied as he desires to learn more (30 words).
5.b.
She refers to the fact that Isaac was caught "reading a pre-algebra workbook" (l.39), in other words, a book used by older students.

6.
The principal looked down on Irma's "simple clothes and thick accent" (l.43). In addition, she cut Irma off when she tried to explain her son's behavior.

7.a.
Dr. Lattimore is outraged by what Irma has told her.
7.b.
Dr. Lattimore is the proud mother of a precocious son, John. And today, John is a successful student in a prestigious American university. So she knows how Irma feels.
7.c.
Dr. Lattimore decides to call Isaac's principal and have a conversation with her.

8.
Irma seems reluctant to have Dr. Lattimore call her son's principal. She doesn't want any trouble and doesn't seem convinced that Dr. Lattimore's call will change the situation. On the other hand, Dr. Lattimore is determined to help Irma and Isaac.