COMPREHENSION Read the whole text 1. What kind of text is it? Key elements: Extract, novel, autobiography, ‘Tis, Frank McCourt, 1999. Example: This text is an extract form a novel called ‘Tis, written by Frank McCourt and published in 1999. 2. What do we learn about the narrator? Key elements: Young man, Frank McCourt, 19 years old, came “New York city in the late forties to escape for poverty in Ireland”, wants to be a student, doesn’t want to be a houseman, or have a low-paid job, admires university students. Example: We learn in this extract that the narrator is Frank McCourt, a nineteen – year –old who has come to New York City in the late forties to escape from poverty in Ireland. He would like to be a student, and he doesn’t want to be a houseman. Read from the beginning to. …Part of a wall 1. Guess why Frank has to spend a dime on the subway He has to spend a dime on the subway because it was raining heavily. (line 4) 2. Why doesn’t Frank like being a houseman? Frank doesn’t like being a houseman because people look at housemen as if they were part of the wall (line14) Frank wants to be admired/noticed. 3. Quote two elements showing that Frank makes fun of rich students. Frank makes fun of rich students by highlighting their activities, which are not really important or serious. The students “drink gin and tonic” and discuss “where they should have dinner” and above all “should they go to Vanessa’s party on Sutton’s place” the last activity is ridiculed because they say it was boring last year. 4. Choose the best title for this part. In my opinion the best title is Refusing one’s station in life. Read from I see (l15) to …important matters (l30) 1. Explain why the words book, college and student are repeated several times.

These words are repeated several times to reinforce the importance that these things have for Frank. He wants to have a new life in which books, college and student, play a central role. 2. True/False. Frank wants to lead an