bac S LV2 2010

LV2

I. Compréhension
1. a. From Lwow or more precisely Rotterdam
b. to the U.S.A.
c. for emigration
d. boat
2. a. and b. many, or more exactly, four : the narrator’s grandfather, grand aunt Sylvia, and two girls at least.
3. a. Because they could have lice. They could transmit them to the other passengers. For this reason the girls might not be allowed to embark. That’s why the grandfather was anxious. (34 words)
b. According to the grandfather he sounded a false fire alarm and the mess enticed allowed them to get on board unnoticed by the authorities. (24 words)

4. The narrator is their grandson and grand nephew.
5. When he “interviewed him about his life”. (l. 5)
6. Because it is considered by both the narrator and his grandfather (the one who tells his own story or autobiography) as the phrase that triggers the narration. It’s also the important detail that had the good consequence of helping he grandfather to get into the U.S. of A.. (44 words)
7. a. The narrator was doubtful. (last line), “impressed” (l. 12).
b. ll. 20-22 Later he played the game of just asking the question the grandfather wanted to hear and answer to.

EXPRESSION
1. Narrator: Aunt Sylvia, please tell me, is your brother my grandfather’s version of your entrance / access to the U.S. of A. true? Or would you rather say that he changed a few things, that his vision is biased, that his memory betrayed him, that he falsified facts in order to give a heroic image of himself?
Sylvia: Well grand nephew, since you are being so curious and inquisitive, I will tell you what really happened. I will give you my own version of the facts. Then you can choose between the two versions which are completely different. So here is what you need to know: the girls’ hair was long indeed yet it did not hinder anybody to enter the U. S.. Everything went smoothly as we were admitted on board and floated to the promised land. No exaggerated control of identity. All people went through the medical exams and questioning all right. Some might have been refused. We were not. It’s an ordinary immigrants’ story without incident.
2. Stories that appeal to my imagination necessarily refer to some reality. […]