Annales gratuites Bac L : Compréhension écrite

There was a strange car parked outside his house. At first, he assumed (1) it was something to do with his son, but as he got closer he recognised the man sitting in it. As he drew level with it, the man got out, and after locking the car door, came round to greet him with his hand extended.
"Hello, Henry, how are you ? It's been a bit of while." As he shook the outstretched hand he looked into the man's eyes with curiosity. It had been a long time - maybe a couple of years since they had last met. He wondered what brought him. Under the high-necked woollen jumper he could see the green collar of his policeman's shirt and when he glanced down, a pair of shiny black boots under faded cord trousers.
"I'm fine John, and how are you ?"
"Struggling on. I'm just finishing a shift (2) and I thought I'd call up and see you."
There was a moment of silence, and he knew his caller did not want to talk in the street. He nodded and invited him into the house, his fingers fumbling with the front door key. He could feel the man watching him and it made him nervous and clumsy in his movements.
The offer of a cup of tea was accepted and as he stood in the kitchen getting things ready, he could sense the contents of his living-room being explored. He tried to hurry, but the kettle seemed to take a long time to boil.
"How's your family doing, John ?" He asked, unsure of how many children his visitor now had.
"Not too bad, thanks. And what about William ? What's he doing with himself now ?"
He held his cup carefully to his lips and searched for the right words.
"The last time I spoke to you, you were telling me he was doing some sort of course at the Tech (3), isn't that right ?"
"He never finished it. He dropped out half-way through."
"That's a pity. He always was a bit of a restless spirit." A thin silence froze over the moment as they both drank from their cups and watched each other. But there was to be no respite.
"Would you like some more tea, John ? There's plenty in the pot."
"No, it's all right, thanks. I know you're wondering why I've come, and if it was just a social visit it would be a bit late in the day."
He paused and set his cup on the floor beside his feet.
"It's about William, Henry. I've heard his name mentioned in the station. Nothing specific now, but mentioned all the same. He's running with a bad crowd and if he keeps on running with them he'll end up in trouble. Could be big trouble too, by the sound of it. I'm telling you this because I owe you. Maybe you could talk to him, scare him off, or if you like I could maybe speak to him."
"You say a bad crowd."
"People that are dangerous to be around. Some with records (4), and some clever enough to get others to do their dirty work. But all of them bad news and the boy would be best far away from them - far away before it's too late."
"I'm grateful to you, John, for telling me this, and I'll talk to him like you say, make him see some sense. Maybe he'll find a decent job soon and leave all this behind him. Don't worry - I'll talk to him all right, get him to see the mess he's getting himself into."
He said all the things he thought would sound convincing, but behind his words was a small feeling of relief that there had been no worse to tell. His son's name had been mentioned - that was the extent of it. Perhaps it was destined to go no further than that, perhaps he really would try once more to reach him. They talked on, their conversation slowly drifting into shared memories of the past, but as they talked he knew he could trust no one but the boy who had been given to him.

David PARK, The Healing, 1992.

(1) To assume : to suppose.
(2) A shift : a working period.
(3) The Tech : the Technical school
(4) Records : criminal records.

1 - Two characters are present in the scene. Fill in the grid with information from the text.

	Name	occupation	Relationship with each other
A
B

2 - Who and what is the conversation about ? Answer briefly.


3 - Where does the main part of the conversation take place ? Why ?


4 - The two characters talking to each other meet frequently.
Right or Wrong ? Justify by giving two different quotations.

a.

b.


5 - The visitor

a. Pick out the details in the man's dress and attitude which reveal his job :

- dress :
- attitude :

b. Is he on duty ?

YES
NO

Justify by two quotations :

1)
2)

c. Which adjectives do you think best describes the visitor's attitude ?

threatening		friendly		helpful
inquisitive		brutal		indifferent

Justify by quoting from the text.


6 - The father

a. What are the 2 main phases the father goes through ? Describe them and explain how they are revealed ?

b. Explain how the father feels and why ? (20 words)


7 - The son

a. Explain in English the meaning of the following sentences :

- He dropped out half-way through.

- He always was a bit of a restless spirit.

- He is running with a bad crowd.

- Make him see some sense.


b. Is the relationship between father and son totally hopeless ?

YES
NO

Justify by two quotations.

1 - Two characters are present in the scene. Fill in the grid with information from the text.

	Name	occupation	Relationship with each other
A	Henry	friendship
B	John	policeman

2 - Who and what is the conversation about ? Answer briefly.

The conversation is about William, Henry's son. John urges his friend to watch over his son who is running with a bad crowd. (or ... watch over his son so that he may not get into trouble.)


3 - Where does the main part of the conversation take place ? Why ?

In Henry's house because he doesn't want his neighbours to listen to the conversation.


4 - The two characters talking to each other meet frequently.

Right or Wrong ? Justify by giving two different quotations.

a. It had been a long time - may be a couple of years since they had last met.

b. "How's your family doing, John ?" he asked, unsure of how many children his visitor now had.


5 - The visitor

a. Pick out the details in the man's dress and attitude which reveal his job :

- dress : Green collar of his policeman's shirt
- attitude : He could sense the contents of his living-room explored

b. Is he on duty ?

YES
NO

Justify by two quotations :

1) I'm just finishing a shift
2) If it was just a social visit it would be a bit late in the day.

c. Which adjectives do you think best describes the visitor's attitude ?

threatening		friendly	X	helpful	X
inquisitive	X	brutal		indifferent

Justify by quoting from the text.

Inquisitive : He could sense the contents of his living-room explored .
Friendly : I'm telling you this because I owe you.
Helpful : If you like I could maybe speak to him.


6 - The father

a. What are the 2 main phases the father goes through ? Describe them and explain how they are revealed ?

First he feared that John might break terrible news, then he breathed a sigh of relief because his friend had come just to warn him about the dangers William would be in if he went on running with a bad crowd.
"his fingers fumbling with the front door", "a thin silence froze over the moment...", "behind his words was a small feeling of relief".

b. Explain how the father feels and why ?

First, he is anxious because he is concerned about his son's behaviour. Then, he seems to be desperate (l.47) because he and his son don't get on well with each other and there is no more dialogue.

There seems to be no way out. Finally, there is a glimmer of hope, however hard the situation may be.


7 - The son

a. Explain in English the meaning of the following sentences :

- He dropped out half-way through.
He left school before completing his studies.

- He always was a bit of a restless spirit.
He never managed to settle down.

- He is running with a bad crowd.
His mates are hoodlums.

- Make him see some sense.
Help him and talk him into being a good and law-abiding fellow.

b. Is the relationship between father and son totally hopeless ?

YES
NO

Justify by two quotations.

Perhaps he really would try once more to reach him.
He could trust no one but the boy who had been given to him.

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