Senexo,I like! - anglais terminale

exersice 1 bac l' et l2

He was a heavy stout man with bulging bloodshot eyes. All his muscles seemed to be in his thighs. Yes, an ugly customer, one you wouldn't forget in a hurry - and that was an important point because the Crown¹ proposed to call four witnesses who hadn't forgotten him, who had seen him hurrying away from the little red villa in Northwood Street. The clock had just struck two in the morning.

Mrs Salmon in 15 Northwood Street had been unable to sleep; she heard a door click shut and thought it was her own gate. So she went to the window and saw Adams (that was his name) on the steps of Mrs Parker's house. He had just come out and he was wearing gloves. He had a hammer in his hand and she saw him drop it into the laurel bushes by the front gate. But before he moved away, he had looked up - at her window.

The fatal instinct that tells a man when he is watched exposed him in the light of a street-lamp to her gaze - his eyes suffused with horrifying and brutal fear, like an animal's when you raise a whip. I talked afterwards to Mrs Salmon, who naturally after the astonishing verdict went in fear herself. As I imagine did all the witnesses - Henry MacDougall, who had been driving home from Benfleet late and nearly ran Adams down at the corner of Northwood Street. Adams was walking in the middle of the road looking dazed. And old Mr Wheeler, who lived next door to Mrs Parker, at No. 12, and was wakened by a noise - like a chair falling - through the thin-as-paper villa wall, and got up and looked out of the window, just as Mrs Salmon had done, saw Adams's back and, as he turned, those bulging eyes. In Laurel Avenue he had been seen by yet another witness - his luck was badly out; he might as well have committed the crime in broad daylight.

"I understand," counsel² said, "that the defence proposes to plead mistaken identity. Adams's wife will tell you that he was with her at two in the morning on February 14, but after you have heard the witnesses for the Crown and examined carefully the features of the prisoner, I do not think you will be prepared to admit the possibility of a mistake." It was all over, one would have said, but the hanging. After the formal evidence had been given by the policeman who had found the body and the surgeon who examined it, Mrs Salmon was called. She was the ideal witness, with her slight Scotch accent and her expression of honesty, care and kindness.

The counsel for the Crown brought the story gently out. She spoke very firmly.

There was no malice in her, and no sense of importance at standing there in the Central Criminal Court with a judge in scarlet hanging on her words and the reporters writing them down. Yes, she said, and then she had gone downstairs and rung up the police station.

"And do you see the man here in court?"

She looked straight at the big man in the dock, who stared hard at her with his Pekingese eyes without emotion.

"Yes," she said, "there he is."

"You are quite certain?"

She said simply, "I couldn't be mistaken, sir." It was all as easy as that. "Thank you, Mrs Salmon."

Counsel for the defence rose to cross-examine. If you had reported as many murder trials as I have, you would have known beforehand what line he would take. And I was right, up to a point.

"Now, Mrs Salmon, you must remember that a man's life may depend on your evidence."

"I do remember it, sir."

"Is your eyesight good?"

"I have never had to wear spectacles, sir."

"You are a women of fifty-five?"

"Fifty-six, sir."

"And the man you saw was on the other side of the road?"

"Yes, sir."

"And it was two o'clock in the morning. You must have remarkable eyes, Mrs Salmon?"

"No, sir. There was moonlight, and when the man looked up, he had the lamplight on his face."

"And you have no doubt whatever that the man you saw is the prisoner?"

I couldn't make out what he was at. He couldn't have expected any other answer than the one he got.

"None whatever, sir. It isn't a face one forgets."

Counsel took a look round the court for a moment. Then he said, "Do you mind, Mrs Salmon, examining again the people in court? No, not the prisoner. Stand up, please, Mr Adams," and there at the back of the court with thick stout body and muscular legs and a pair of bulging eyes, was the exact image of the man in the dock. He was even dressed the same - tight blue suit and striped tie.

"Now think very carefully, Mrs Salmon. Can you still swear that the man you saw drop the hammer in Mrs Parker's garden was the prisoner - and not this man, who is his twin brother?" Of course she couldn't. She looked from one to the other and didn't say a word.

Graham Greene, The Case for the Defence, 1939.

Notes

the Crown : la Couronne (Royaume-Uni) - le ministère public, c'est-à-dire le corps des magistrats qui représente les intérêts de la société ; ils soutiennent l'accusation, les parties civiles.
the counsel : l'avocat.

Compréhension de l'écrit

Identify the main characters and give their names.

The murderer	(1)
The victim	(2)
The main witness	(3)

Where exactly does the scene take place?
(4)
When and where did the crime take place?
Time: (5) (For example: 10 PM, 7.30 AM, etc.)
Place: (6)
What is the narrator's job? One word only.
(7)
Justify by quoting from the text. 11 words maximum.
(8)

Who and what do the underlined pronouns refer to?

her (to her gaze)	(9)
them (writing them down)	(10)
I (as I have)	(11)
none (none, whatever sir)	(12)

Find equivalents in the text for:

strongly built	(13)
larger and rounder than usual	(14)
filled with	(15)
bewildered	(16)
desire to cause harm	(17)
in advance	(18)

Say if the following statements are true (T) or false (F) by ticking the right box. Justify by quoting the most appropriate elements.

Adams's instincts prevented him from being recognized.	(19)
Mrs Salmon felt relieved after the verdict.	(20)
Everyone expected the verdict.	(21)
The judge didn't expect much of Mrs Salmon's testimony.	(22)
Mrs Salmon was positive: she had picked the right man.	(23)
The counsel's last question left Mrs Salmon speechless.	(24)

Choose the three adjectives which best apply to Mrs Salmon's character:

self-assured	(25)
nasty	(26)
self-important	(27)
kind	(28)
upright	(29)

Translate into French from "Counsel took a look..." to "striped tie".

(NOTE: No correction yet. )

(30)

Compétence linguistique
1. Active & Passive:
  1. Turn the following sentences into the passive form. Mention the agent if necessary:
    1. The four witnesses had not forgotten him.
      (31)
    2. Henry MacDougall nearly ran Adams down.
      (32)
  2. Turn the following sentences into the active form:
    1. Old Mrs Wheeler ... was wakened by a noise.
      (33)
    2. He had been seen by another witness.
      (34)
2. Fill in the blanks using a different link-word for each sentence:
  although; and yet; however; in spite of; instead of; since; unless; whereas
  1. The witness was sure to have seen Adams, (35) the defence proposed to plead mistaken identity.
  2. (36) something new turned up, the court would condemn the suspect.
  3. (37) Mrs Salmon looked straight at the big man, he remained impassive.
  4. (38) the numerous witnesses, the suspect didn't look upset.
  5. (39) feeling ashamed, he looked indifferent.
  6. (40) sure she had been, she was unable to decide which one was the murderer.
  7. Old Mrs Wheeler lived next door to Mrs Parker, (41) Mrs Salmon lived opposite.
  8. (42) her eyesight was good, she had never had to wear spectacles.
3. Re-write the following sentences using the given prompts.
  1. It was impossible for her to resist going to the window.
    She couldn't help (43).
  2. Mrs Salmon is fifty-six.
    Mrs Salmon is a (44) woman.
  3. She saw the second man. She immediately realized that she may have made a mistake.
    (Note: don't change given words unless necessary and don't press the enter key.)
    No sooner
    (45)
4. Fill in the blanks with like - as - alike according to the meaning.
  1. Mrs Salmon was called (46) a witness.
  2. After the crime he reacted (47) a wounded animal.
  3. They both looked (48) . In fact they were twins.
  4. (49) his brother, he was wearing a tight blue suit and a striped tie.
  5. (50) a witness, she had to swear to tell the truth.
  6. (51) all the other witnesses, she had to swear to tell the truth.
5. Put the verbs in brackets into the right form.
  1. She (52) (wait) for some time by the window when she suddenly (53) (spot) Adams.
  2. It was the first time her gaze (54) (meet) the prisoner's.
  3. Counsel was used to (55) (cross-examine).
  4. I'd rather they (56) (save) the prisoner's life.
Expression écrite
Choose one of the following subjects. About 300 words.
1. The morning following "the astonishing verdict", Mrs Salmon writes in her diary. Write about the images going through her head, as well as her feelings and her fears.
2. Do you think Justice is really fair in our modern societies? Discuss.

exercice 2 bac s2 s1 l2 l'

After lunch Harold usually joined Mrs Rice and her daughter for coffee. He decided to make no change in his usual behaviour. This was the first time he had seen Elsie since the night before. She was very pale and was obviously still suffering from shock, but she made a gallant endeavour to behave as usual, uttering small commonplaces about the weather and the scenery.

They commented on a new guest who had just arrived, trying to guess his nationality. Harold thought a moustache like that must be French - Elsie said German - and Mrs Rice thought he might be Spanish.

There was no one else but themselves on the terrace with the exception of the two Polish ladies who were sitting at the extreme end, both doing fancy-work.

As always when he saw them, Harold felt a queer shiver of apprehension pass over him. Those still faces, those curved beaks of noses, those long claw-like hands...

A page-boy approached and told Mrs Rice she was wanted. She rose and followed him. At the entrance to the hotel they saw her encounter a police officer in full uniform.

Elsie caught her breath.

"You don't think - anything's gone wrong?"

Harold reassured her quickly.

"Oh no, no, nothing of that kind."

But he himself knew a sudden pang of fear.

He said: "Your mother's been wonderful!"

"I know, Mother is a great fighter. She'll never sit down under defeat." Elsie shivered. "But it is all horrible, isn't it?"

"Now, don't dwell on it. It's all over and done with."

Elsie said in a low voice: "I can't forget that - that it was I who killed him."

Harold said urgently: "Don't think of it that way. It was an accident. You know that really."

Her face grew a little happier. Harold added: "And anyway it's past. The past is the past. Try never to think of it again."

Mrs Rice came back. By the expression on her face they saw that all was well.

"It gave me quite a fright," she said almost gaily. "But it was only a formality about some papers. Everything's all right, my children. We're out of the shadow. I think we might order ourselves a liqueur on the strength of it."

The liqueur was ordered and came. They raised their glasses.

Mrs Rice said: "To the future!"

Harold smiled at Elsie and said: "To your happiness!"

She smiled back at him and said as she lifted her glass: "And to you - to your success! I'm sure you're going to be a very great man."

With the reaction from fear they felt gay, almost light-headed. The shadow had lifted! All was well...

From the far end of the terrace the two bird-like women rose. They rolled up their work carefully. They came across the stone flags.

With little bows they sat down by Mrs Rice. One of them began to speak.

The other one let her eyes rest on Elsie and Harold. There was a little smile on her lips. It was not, Harold thought, a nice smile...

He looked over at Mrs Rice. She was listening to the Polish woman and though he couldn't understand a word, the expression on Mrs Rice's face was clear enough. All the old anguish and despair came back. She listened and occasionally spoke a brief word.

Presently the two sisters rose, and with stiff little bows went into the hotel.

Harold leaned forward. He said hoarsely: "What is it?"

Mrs Rice answered him in the quiet hopeless tones of despair: "Those women are going to blackmail us. They heard everything last night. And now we've tried to hush it up, it makes the whole thing a thousand times worse..."

Agatha Christie, The Stymphalian Birds.

Compréhension

Geography
In what country does the story take place?
(1)
Justify your answer by quoting three proper nouns from the text.
(2) (3) (4)

Ammu

Complete the following table with information showing what Ammu did in the different places where she lived. Quote from the text or use your own words.

Numbers 7 and 9 must be in alphabetical order here.

Place where she lived	What she did in each place
(5)	She went to school
Ayemenem	(6)
(7)	(8)
(9)	(10)

Ammu and the Other Characters

Complete the following table with information about the other characters in the text.

Two words maximum. Omit possessive adjectives and prepositions.

Characters	Relationship to Ammu	Where they live(d)	Occupation
Pappachi	(11)	(12)	(13)
	Mother	(14)	(15)
	(16)	Calcutta
	father-in-law	(17)	(18)
	husband	(19)	(20)
twins	(21)	(22)

Quote three elements giving information about the sort of life Ammu had with her parents before she got married.
Quote full sentences (using cut 'n' paste, i.e. 'copier-coller'); respect the order of the text.
(23) (24) (25)
What were her feelings about her life at that time?
(26)
What did she do as a consequence?
(27)

Ammu and Marriage
1. Quote from the text to say what she found likeable about her future husband. (4 qualities)
  (28)
  (29)
  (30)
  (31)
2. "He proposed to Ammu" (paragraph 4). Express in your own words how she reacted and why.
  (32)
3. Was her marriage successful? Using elements from the text, justify and explain in your own words. (30 words)
  (33)
Ammu in Assam
Using elements from the text and in your own words describe:
1. What kind of life Ammu had outside the home.
  (34)
2. The sort of person she was then.
  (35)

Compétence Linguistique
1. Change the phrases in italics into compound adjectives. Fill in the gaps with them.
  1. When her father retired Ammu was still a girl; She was sixteen years old.
    When her father retired Ammu was still a (36) girl.
  2. It took Ammu some time to get the freedom which she had long awaited.
    It took Ammu some time to get her (37) freedom.
  3. She had suffered too much from a position of subordination which has lasted long.
    She had suffered too much from her (38) position of subordination.
  4. When she went to Calcutta she had turned into a young woman and she looked lovely. When she went to Calcutta she had turned into a (39) young woman.
  5. A lot of men with broken noses attended her father-in-law's funeral.
    A lot of (40) men attended her father-in-law's funeral.
2. Ask a question about each sentence so that the answer is the underlined element.
  1. There was very little for a young girl to do in Ayemenem.
    (41)
  2. At someone else's wedding reception, Ammu met her future husband.
    (42)
  3. Her husband was small and well-built.
    (43)
  4. He had been working on the tea estates for six years.
    (44)
  5. Her father-in-law was Chairman of the Railway Board.
    (45)
3. Complete the comments made on the following sentences:
  1. "She wrote to her parents informing them of her decision. They didn't reply."
    1. Ammu's parents objected (46).
    2. Certainly Ammu resented (47).
  2. "All day she dreamed of escaping from Ayemenem..."
    1. She wished (48).
    2. She would (49).
  3. "He never explained or apologized.
    1. She wished he (50).
4. Rephrase the sentences using some of the following modals:
  must, may, might, can, should, will, would, can't, mustn't
  1. The father-in-law very probably had education and money.
    The father-in-law (51).
  2. It was Ammu's habit to wear backless blouses.
    Ammu (52).
  3. She did not immediately realize that he was a heavy drinker. That was a mistake.
    Ammu (53).
  4. Most probably her husband was not happy.
    Her husband (54).
  5. Perhaps her husband felt lonely on the tea estate.
    Her husband (55).
5. Rephrase the following sentences using the prompts given.
  1. A college education is not necessary for a girl.
    A girl (56).
  2. No proposals came Ammu's way.
    No one (57).
  3. I have been working on this estate for six years.
    (58) when I was 19.
  4. When she confronted him about these things...
    She reproached (59).
6. Complete the following sentences using expressions of quantity.
  1. When Ammu returned to Ayemenem she discovered there were (60) things she could do.
  2. When she married, she didn't have (61) idea of what life was like on a tea estate.
  3. Ammu quickly realized her husband drank too (62).
  4. (63) her father (64) her mother answered Ammu's letter from Calcutta announcing her marriage.
  5. (65) had ever exasperated Ammu like her husband.
Expression
1. Traiter un sujet au choix. (350 words)
  1. Ammu writes a letter to a friend in Delhi whom she has not seen since they were at school. She tells her about her life since then.
  2. Can a woman be as successful in life as a man today?

exercice 4 bac s...

Felicia's nervousness returns as she passes with the other passengers into a building in which a security officer questions her. "Have you means of identification?" he demands.

"Identification?"

"What's your name?"

Felicia tells him. He asks if she has a driver's licence.

"I can't drive actually."

"Have you another form of identification?"

"I can't think that I have."

"No letter? No documentation of any kind?"

She shakes her head. He asks if she is resident in the UK and she says no, in Ireland.

"You're here on a visit, are you, miss?"

"Yes."

"And what's the purpose of this visit?"

"To see a friend."

"And you're travelling on to where?"

"The Birmingham area. North of Birmingham."

"May I look through your bags for a moment? Would you mind just stepping aside, miss?"

He pokes about among her clothes and the extra pair of shoes she has brought. She thinks he'll comment when he comes across the banknotes in her handbag, but he doesn't.

"I'll just jot down the address of you friend", he says. "Would you give me that, please?"

"I don't know it. I have to find him yet."

"He's not expecting you?"

"He's not really."

"You're sure you'll find him?"

"I will, through his place of work."

Her interrogator nods. He is a man of about the same age as her father, with a featureless face.

He is wearing a black overcoat, open at the front.

"I'll just jot down your address in Ireland", he says.

She says she is from Mountmellick, the first town that comes into her head. She gives an address she makes up: 23 St Mary's Terrace.

"Right", the security man says.

No one stops her at the Customs. She asks where the trains go from, and is directed. When she makes further inquiries she is informed that the train for Birmingham isn't due to leave until a quarter past two. It is now just after midnight.

The train comes in, long before it's due to go out again. Felicia makes certain it is the right one, and when the journey begins she falls asleep.

William Trevor, Felicia's Journey, Penguin USA, 1994.

Parfois les boîtes peuvent être un peu trop petites pour vos réponses. Vous pouvez continuer à écrire pourtant.

Compréhension

Which is the right answer? (1)
1. an article from a magazine
2. a dialogue in a play
3. an extract from a novel

There are six mistakes in this summary of the text. pick them out and quote the correct extracts from the text:

When she reaches the building, Felicia is very calm. A security officer asks her for her identity papers. She says she lives in England. She shows him her driver's licence. He examines everything she's got except her handbag. She explains she has a friend in Birmingham and gives his address. She is stopped at the Customs. Eventually she takes the train for Birmingham.

Mistake	Extracts from the text
(2)	(3)
(4)	(5)
(6)	(7)
(8)	(9)
(10)	(11)
(12)	(13)

Say if the statement is true (T) or false (F). Quote from the text to justify your answer.

Felicia refuses to tell her name. (14)
Felicia says she has come to work. (15)
She invents an address in Ireland. (16)
- Give 2 justifications
The train for Birmingham is leaving about two hours later. (17)
Felicia takes the wrong train. (18)

a.	(19)
b.	(20)
c1.	(21)
c2.	(22)
d.	(23)
e.	(24)

Find in the text equivalents for:
1. in fact (25)
2. the objective (26)
3. discovers (27)
4. waiting for (28)
5. note down (29)
6. asks for more information (30)
What or who do the underlined words refer to?
1. he demands (31)
2. What's your name? (32)
3. You're here on a visit, are you, miss? (33)
4. would you give me that (34)
5. I don't know it (35)
6. He's not expecting you (36)

Compréhension de l'écrit

Where does the action of the scene take place? (1)
Justify your answer by giving at least two quotations from the text.
(You must quote the whole sentence.)
(2)

(3)
Identify the main characters. Give their names and relationship whenever it is possible.
(Put the names in alphabetical order.)
(4) (5)
(6) (7)
(8) (9)
(10) (11)
List all the other characters mentioned in the text.
(Include article.)
(12)
(13)
(14)
Among the other characters mentioned, which one is spoken of but can't actually be present in the scene?
(15)
Quote from the text to justify your answer.
(You must quote the whole sentence.)
(16)

Say who or what the underlined words refer to:
(Answers must be in alphabetical order; use commas, no conjunctions.)

There was no one else but themselves...	(17)
But it is all horrible, isn't it?	(18)
But it was only a formality...	(19)
Everything is all right, my children	(20)

Elsie went through various moods at different points of the story. These moods can be characterized by the following adjectives:
shocked / apprehensive / horrified / relieved
For each adjective, quote an appropriate phrase or sentence from the text.
(No punctuation; 11 words maximum.)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)

Say whether the following statements are R (right) or W (wrong). Justify your answer by picking out details from the text.

Harold and the Rices have never met before.	(25)
Harold felt nervous whenever he saw the two ladies.	(26)
The interview between Mrs Rice and the police official went all right.	(27)
Mrs Rice was sure the two Polish ladies would eventually be nice to them.	(28)

Throughout the text there is an evolution in Harold's feeling and attitude. Put the following sentences into the chronological order according to the evolution of Harold's feelings and attitude. Select the order of the events:

With the arrival of the Polish ladies he can't help shivering since he has always felt ill-at-ease in their presence.	(29)
He tries to keep on being reassuring towards Elsie.	(30)
As the Polish ladies interfere again, the potential danger they represent frightens him again.	(31)
He decides to behave as usual in order not to arouse anybody's suspicion.	(32)

Pick out two details from the text evoking birds.
1. Details:
  (33) (34)
2. Who exactly do they allude to?
  (35)
3. Why are they compared to those birds? Tick the best solution. Because:
  (36)
Translate from "I know" ... down to "it's all over and done with".
(NOTE: No correction yet. )
(37)

Compétence linguistique

Fill in the following grid:

Nationality	Country	People
Spanish	(38)	The (39)
(40)	Germany	The (41)
(42)	(43)	The French
Polish	(44)	The (45)

Turn the following sentences into reported speech:
1. "Do you think anything's gone wrong?"
  Elsie asked (46)
2. "Your mother's been wonderful."
  Harold answered (47)
3. "I know. Mother is a great fighter. She'll never sit down under defeat."
  Elsie went on to say she knew
  (48)
4. "Don't think of it."
  He told (49)
Use the prompts to rephrase the following sentences.
1. Mrs Rice was sorry she spoke.
  She wished (50)
2. They immediately commented on the new guest who had just arrived.
  No sooner
  (51)
3. A page-boy told Mrs Rice she was wanted.
  Mrs Rice (52)
Put the verb in brackets into the right forms and tenses.
1. It isn't the first time Harold (53) (to see) the two Polish ladies.
2. If Elsie (54) (not to talk) about commonplaces, Harold (55) (to understand) that she (56) (to be) afraid.
3. Harold will question Mrs Rice as soon as she (57) (to be) back from the entrance hall.
4. They were used (58) (to meet) for coffee.
Without changing the meaning, rewrite the following sentences using one of the following modals:
need / must / should / can / may
1. Mrs Rice was convinced the two women had overheard their conversation.
  "The two women ," Mrs Rice thought. (59)
2. After the departure of the police, Mrs Rice thought being afraid was useless.
  She thought she (60)
3. Harold advised Elsie not to think about it again.
  He told her she (61)
4. It's impossible that Elsie should have felt calm.
  Elsie (62)
5. Perhaps the two ladies will finally not blackmail them.
  The two ladies (63)
Fill in the blanks with the right preposition.
1. Elsie was looking (64) commonplaces to utter.
2. Harold and she looked (65) a new guest who had just arrived.
3. The three characters would all have to look deep (66) the two women's lives to prevent them from acting.

Expression écrite

Choose one of the following subjects.
1. Later on, Mrs Rice, Harold and Elsie are talking about their future plans to get out of their difficult situation. Imagine their conversation.
2. How important is reading at a time when new technologies have an ever-increasing importance?

exercice 3 bac

NOTE Il n'y a pas de correction pour les questions en caractères rouges.

Ammu finished her schooling the same year that her father retired from his job in Delhi and moved to Ayemenem. Pappachi insisted that a college education was an unnecessary expense for a girl, so Ammu had no choice but to leave Delhi and move with them. There was very little for a young girl to do in Ayemenem other than wait for marriage proposals while she helped her mother with the housework. Since her father did not have enough money to raise a suitable dowry, no proposals came Ammu's way. Two years went by. Her eighteenth birthday came and went. Unnoticed, or at least unremarked upon by her parents. Ammu grew desperate. All day she dreamed of escaping from Ayemenem and the clutches of her ill-tempered father and bitter, long-suffering mother. She hatched several wretched little plans. Eventually, one worked. Pappachi agreed to let her spend the summer with a distant aunt who lived in Calcutta.

There, at someone else's wedding reception, Ammu met her future husband.

He was on vacation from his job in Assam where he worked as an assistant manager of a tea estate. His family were once-wealthy zamindars¹ who had migrated to Calcutta from East Bengal after Partition.

He was a small man but well-built. Pleasant-looking. He wore old-fashioned spectacles that made him look earnest and completely belied his easy-going charm and juvenile but totally disarming sense of humour. He was twenty-five and had already been working on the tea estates for six years. He hadn't been to college, which accounted for his schoolboy humour. He proposed to Ammu five days after they first met. Ammu didn't pretend to be in love with him. She just weighed the odds and accepted. She thought that anything, anyone at all, would be better than returning to Ayemenem. She wrote to her parents informing them of her decision. They didn't reply.

Ammu had an elaborate Calcutta wedding. Her fatter-in-law was Chairman of the Railway Board and had a Boxing Blue from Cambridge.² He was the Secretary of the BABA - the Bengal Amateur Boxing Association. He died before the twins were born. His cremation was attended by all the boxers in Bengal. A congregation of mourners with lantern jaws and broken noses.

When Ammu and her husband moved to Assam, Ammu, beautiful, young and cheeky, became the toast of the Planters' Club. She wore backless blouses with her saris and carried a silver lamé purse on a chain. She smoked long cigarettes in a silver cigarette holder and learned to blow perfect smoke rings. Her husband turned out to be not just a heavy drinker but a full-blown alcoholic with all of an alcoholic's deviousness and tragic charm. There were things about him that Ammu never understood. Long after she left him, she never stopped wondering why he lied so outrageously when he didn't need to. Particularly when he didn't need to. In a conversation with friends he would talk about how much he loved smoked salmon when Ammu knew he hated it. Or he would come home from the Club and tell Ammu the he saw Meet Me in St Louis when they'd actually screened The Bronze Buckaroo. When she confronted him about these things, he never explained or apologized. He just giggled, exasperating Ammu to a degree she never thought herself capable of.

Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things, 1997.

Notes

Zamindars: local word for a particular social group.
Had a Boxing Blue from Cambridge: was selected as a boxer for Cambridge University.

Notes

Compréhension de l'écrit

Compétence linguistique

Expression écrite

Compréhension

Compétence Linguistique

Expression

Compréhension

Compréhension de l'écrit

Compétence linguistique

Expression écrite

Notes