(Les numéros de lignes mentionnés sont ceux de votre sujet.)
GENERAL COMPREHENSION
Tick the correct answer :
1) This text deals with
o
American people's fear of cold weather
þ
American people's extensive use of air-conditioning
¨
American people's allergy to air-conditioning
o
The danger of changing temperatures
2) The narrator
o
approves of American people's attitudes
o
is angry with American people
þ
criticizes American people's attitudes
o
is not surprised at American people's attitudes
3) The narrator is
o
English
o
Irish
þ
American
o
French
DETAILED COMPREHENSION
A) True or false ? Justify your answer with brief quotations :
1) The situation described in paragraph one takes place in fine weather
þ
True o
False
It was a glorious day.
2) On the day the narrator recalls, air-conditioning was necessary
o
True
þ
False
To create a climate inside their sealed vehicles that was identical to the climate already existing in the larger world outside.
3) Americans are no longer used to being out of doors
þ
True o
False
They will go out for the novel experience of being out of doors.
4) Americans mostly shop in street-markets
o
True
þ
False
They shop in enclosed malls.
5) In most American cities, shops are underground
o
True
þ
False
All the shops that used to be at street level have moved up to the first floor.
6) The narrator has always lived in the same town
o
True
þ
False
The last time I was in my hometown.
7) The narrator had not planned to meet his old friend when he went to Des Moines
þ
True o
False
The last time I was in (...) Des Moines, I ran into an old friend of the family.
B) What are the four occasions when American people are outdoors ? Quote from the text.
1) They will go on a picnic
2) Or for a day at the beach
3) Or to a big amusement park
4) When they go on holiday
NB : "when they go to a sporting event" sera peut-être accepté.
C) Tick the correct answer
1) "The bulk of their lives" (ligne 11) means
o
The early years of their lives
o
A few years in their lives
þ
The most important part of their lives
o
Half their lives
2) "An outsized motor-home" (ligne 16) is
o
A motor-home that is too small
þ
A motor-home that is too big
o
A motor-home that has a normal size
o
A motor-home that has a strange aspect
3) "People having a smoke" (ligne 26) means
o
People making a fire
þ
People smoking a cigarette
o
People analysing smoke
o
People running from a fire
4) "No muggers" (ligne 32) means
o
No storms
o
No wild animals
o
No hunters
þ
No robbers
D) Pick out a sentence showing that the narrator disapproves of the Americans' attitude regarding the outdoors :
The outdoors, you see, has become a kind of purgatory, a place to which you are banished.
E) Find in the text equivalents of the following words or expressions :
1) Strange : odd
2) Closed : sealed
3) I got the idea : it occurred to me
4) Perfect : flawless
5) A walking person : a pedestrian
6) A bridge : a flyover
7) In the city centre : downtown
8) Drunkards : winos