7/28/2019 READING TESTlet Me Have Those Seats TEACHER

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ENGLISH TEST DATE:

NAME: CLASS:MARK:

/20

COMMENTS:

READING COMPREHENSION

LET ME HAVE THOSE SEATS !

7/28/2019 READING TESTlet Me Have Those Seats TEACHER

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ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

Introduce the document (Type of document / title / origin / author / date )

It is an extract (=an excerpt from an American novel ) from Rosa Parks s autobiography

entitled : My story written in 1992 / It dates back to 1992.

What type of narrative is this? Justify. What can you conclude about my story?

It is a first-person narrative = a narrative in the first person. She writes about her personal

story. The pronoun I is used as well as My.

When and where did the scene take place? Give precise information about time (decade/

month/ time of day) and place (country / state / city / exact place)

The scene took place at a bus stop ( in Court Square) in Montgomery, Alabama, USA (in the

fifties ), more precisely on December 1st , 1955. Rosa parks was heading home from work (in

the evening)

Who were the different characters present in the scene? Introduce them in a few words.

Actually there were many passengers on the bus . Rosa Parks the main protagonist, a black man

sitting next to her, 2 black women who were sitting across the aisle and the bus driver who

didnt want Rosa Parks to remain seated.Read again line 1 to line 15 How many sections were there in the bus? Who was allowed to sit in

each section?

There were two main sections, a white section and a black section . The whites used to sit in

the front of buses whiles blacks were expected to sit in the back. However, there was a middle

section where blacks could sit as well.

Read again line 9 to line 15

-What did the driver do? Why?

He asked black people to give up their seats in the black section for white people to (be able

to) sit.

-How did he first address the passengers?

He ordered them to leave their seats. He gave them no choice. let me have those seats =

imperative form impolite-What did the passengers do then? How did the driver react?

The passengers didnt move, so he threatened them by saying: Yall better make it light on

yourselves and let me have those seats!

- Explain in your own words what the driver meant when he said make it light on yourselves (lines

14/15)He wanted them to move. What he meant was that they should save themselves some trouble to

make things easier on themselves. Its a way to say that theyd better move off and avoid

trouble! Avoid trouble and make it easy for you = make it without problems happening to you.

7/28/2019 READING TESTlet Me Have Those Seats TEACHER

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Read line 16 to line 30- What did the black passengers do then?

The 3 black passengers got up and left their seats. They obeyed and did what they were told

without causing any trouble.

- What did Rosa decide to do? Can you explain why?

She decided to remain seated. She didnt want to give up her seat since she was in her right/in

the black section.

- Which adjectives best apply to Rosa Parks at this moment? Find at least 4 different adjectives to

describe her attitude and feelings. Justify.

determined / brave/ obstinate/ stubborn/ non-violent/daring/ self-confident/revolted/rebellious/calm/smart

What did the driver decide to do then? Why? What does it show about him (find at least 2

different adjectives to describe his attitude towards Rosa / the Law)

He decided to call the police because Rosa refused to comply / to abide by the rules.He is racist / segregationist / rude to her /mean to her /aggressive/ threatening the tonewas threatening . / law-abiding

to abide by the law /rules = se soumettre

To abide ( V.Transitif= supporter = cant stand)

Comment on Rosa Parks answer to the driver (line 23 you may do so)

She doesnt mind/ the consequences (going to jail/ be arrested) / non-violence/determination.She seems to be resigned. Her answer : you may do that shes not rude /respectful/polite/she reacts non-violently.Her answer was adventurous. These words are meaningful as they illustrate the fact that she

doesnt really care about what may/could happen to her. She made it clear to the driver. It

was daring.

Read the last paragraph again How did Rosa feel when waiting for the Police? Explain in your

own words.

She had mixed feelings .

She definitely felt scared = I tried not to think what might happen

concerned /worried about what might happen / nervous /anxious she was proud/ brave /courageous / determined/resignedShe chose to fight for what she thought was fair. She was brave. She was well aware of the

consequences of her action . She had chosen to resist / stand up for her rights. She was ready

to face the consequences of her actions and was prepared to be brought to jail/ to be punished!