DATE:

ENGLISH TEST
NAME:
FORM: MARK : / 20
COMMENTS:

A Boys Journey (Document 1)

My name is Seymour Rechtzeit and I was born in Lodz, Poland, in 1912. My family is Jewish, and I
first
began singing in our temple. By the time I was four, I was called wunderkind, or wonder child in
English.
Soon I was singing in concerts all over Poland.
My family decided that I should come to America, where there would be more opportunities for me.
World
5 War I had just ended, and it was a bad time in Europe. I had an uncle in America, and he sent two
tickets
for my father and me. The rest of my family stayed in Poland. The plan was that my father and I
would make
enough money to bring them to America, too.
In Danzig, now known as Gdansk, we boarded a ship called The Lapland. It was 1920, and I was
on my
way to America.
10 Riding on a big boat across the Atlantic Ocean may sound like fun, but it wasnt. The two-week
trip was
miserable! Our room was in steerage, way down in the bottom of the boat. It was lined with bunks,
one
on top of the other. It was uncomfortable and crowded. I went up deck all the time, just to have
room to
move around.
We hit many bad storms at sea. It rained hard, and I was wet and shivering. By the time we sailed
into New
15 York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty, I had a very bad cold. Still, I was up on deck, in my good
white suit,
cheering along with everyone else at the awesome sight of the statue.
Back then, immigrants had to pass a medical examination to be allowed to enter the country. Many
people
were sent back to where they came from. I was eight years old and I was ill. I didnt know what was
going
to happen to me in America.
20 At Ellis Island, my father, who was not sick, had to leave the ship. He stood in long lines and
officials asked
him lots of questions about where he came from, what he did for a living back in Poland, and what
his plans
were in America. All newcomers had to answer those questions. Only then could you leave Ellis
Island and
take a ferry to New York and finally set foot in America.
When the doctor examined me, he discovered I had a cold. He said I could not go with my father. I
cried
25 and begged. I was terrified to be alone in this strange place.
I stayed on Ellis Island for a few days, until I was feeling better. I had no toys with me. I didnt know
of such
things. But there were other sick boys to keep me company. Some of them spoke Yiddish, my
language.
We ate in a huge dining room. The food was different it was American style. But it was good,
especially
the milk.
30 There was a long gate that led to the boats that took people off the island, across New York
Harbor*, to the
city. Every day, we boys would walk to the gate and look out over the water. We wanted to see
America. It19
 was like being in jail. We felt sad and wondered if we would ever get through the gate and onto a
boat for
that final journey to our new country, the United States.
My cold went away, and soon the officials told me that my father and uncle were coming to get me.
35 As I stepped off the boat from Ellis Island, I felt a rush of joy. All around me were hundreds of
families
greetings their relatives, welcoming them to America.
That was the beginning of my new life in New York. Right away I started singing in concerts and
making
money to help bring the rest of my family to America. I sang in school, too. I sang My Country Tis
of Thee*
and The Star-Spangled Banner*. I learned quickly.
40 I became a child star of vaudeville. Thats a kind of entertainment in which actors sing and tell
stories. I was
very popular because I was a kid. I traveled* from place to place to entertain.
In a few years I had made enough money to bring my mother, brothers and sisters to America. But I
faced
a new problem. It was 1924, and not as many immigrants were being allowed into America. My
family
could not get permission to come. They were in Poland, and my father and I were in America.
How would we be a family again ?
45

Seymour Rechtzeit, A Boys Journey (2002),

Scholastic D.R.

*My Country Tis of Thee: First national anthem of the United States.

Ellis Island, in the early 20th century.

JACOB moved on toward the second inspection team. "You speak English?""A little," said
Jacob.
"I see you limp slightly. Something wrong with your leg?"
No.
He began to sweat. The wound from the Cossack's bullet had long since healed, but
sometimes it ached a bit. The doctor marked something on his coat."What that mean?" asked
Jacob."Your leg will have to be looked at. What's three and three?"
"Six. But nothing wrong with my leg!"
"It'll have to be looked at. Move on."
Jacob obeyed. Now he was a wreck.
Oh God, he thought, don't send me back! Please!
He entered a small room, immaculately clean, filled with medical furniture. A nice-looking
young doctor with sandy hair looked at the chalk mark on his coat.
'"There nothing wrong with me," Jacob blurted out. "You see! I healthy!'"
Calm down
"How can I be calm? I can't go back to Russia. They kill me!"
The doctor looked surprised, and Jacob realized he should have shut up.
"Why?"
"They kill all Jews," he said quickly. "Russians hate Jews."
"Yes, so I hear. Drop your pants, please."
Nervously Jacob obeyed. The doctor leaned down to examine the bullet wound.
"What's that?" he said.
"I got shot. Hunting accident."The doctor looked at him suspiciously. "Hunting? Did a doctor
treat it?"
"No. I mean, yes! It all right. Honest! No problem! I healthy, make good American. You see."
The doctor straightened. "All right, pull your pants up. What's the real story?"
Jacob quickly pulled up his pants. "I tell truth. Hunting accident in Russia. I healthy.Look: fee!
muscle. Strong! Healthy! See?
Jacob was in such an agony of apprehension that Dr. Carl Travers almost laughed.
"Yes, I think you are healthy," he said. "And welcome to America."
Jacob was staring at him.
"You mean I pass?"
"That's right. I have a funny feeling you were what they were hunting, but you pass."

Fred Mustard STEWART, Ellis Island (1983)

READING COMPREHENSION :
(Document 1) A Boys Journey
STRUCTURE OF THE TEXT
 Skim the text to put the following events into their correct order :
Crossing the Atlantic
Life in New York
Farewell to Poland
Ellis Island

This text is a
first person narrative soliloquy third person narrative
dialogue

The story is told from the point of view of

It is an extract from an autobiographical novel a diary

a- Complete the grid :

Main characters full Country of Year of birth Religion Special talent

name origin

b-Tick the correct answer . Justify ,, by quoting from

the text:
The expression wonder child means : enfant prodige enfant merveilleux

The family thought that the child would do well in America . YES NO

Once in America he would earn money for his family . YES NO

It was after World War I and conditions in Europe were hopeful. YES NO

PART TWO
Complete the grid
Port Name Year Name of the Length of Part of the ship for 3rd Final
of of ship of departure ocean the trip class destination
departure to be crossed passengers

PART THREE

Right or wrong ? Justify answers , by quoting from the

text :
Seymour was allowed to leave with his father , although he was sick . YES
NO

He stayed on Ellis Island until his cold went away . YES NO

Yiddish refers to the language spoken by people in Poland ?
the traditional language of the Jewish people in Europe ?

PART FOUR
a) What does the Star-Spangled Banner (l.39) refer to in
the text ?
 .....
b) Right or wrong ? Justify by quoting from the text :
Seymour s family was not allowed to come to the United States in 1924 .
YES NO
.....
He was quickly known as a famous actor and singer in New York and the US .
YES NO

How do we know this is a real-life story ? (20-30 words)

The journey across the Atlantic was difficult and consequently

full of suspense.
Give 3 details indicating the difficulties.


Another element of suspense happens on Ellis Island. Which
one ? Explain why the reader fears for (= craindre pour
quelquun /avoir peur ) Seymour and sympathizes with (= avoir de la

sympathie pour) him.

Tick the adjectives which best describe Seymours personality
and justify your choices.
shy courageous cheerful determined nervous sociable
impatient enthusiastic selfish


(Document 2) Dont Send Me Back !
Briefly introduce the main character (Name, probable age, nationality,
religion.)


Who are the other characters present in the text ?

How are they related to the main character ?

Where and when does the action take place ?

Why did the main character decide to leave his home county ?
Explain in your own words and then justify quoting from the text

What happened to Jacob? Try to account for / explain the origin

of his wound.

 Are the following statements Right or Wrong? Justify quoting

from the text.

a- Jacob wishes he had not mentioned his life was threatened in Russia. Right
Wrong

b- The doctor looks down on Jacob. He is disdainful /despiteful. Right Wrong

c- The doctor who examines Jacob is gullible and believes his story about the hunting
accident. Right Wrong

d- Jacob is very eager to show he will be able to fit into the American society . Right
Wrong

e- Jacob fails the test and is going to be sent back to his home-country . Right
Wrong

Analyse Dr Travers attitude towards Jacob. How do you explain

that he eventually lets him pass?

(Document 1 & Document 2)

Compare and contrast the two main characters in both texts?

(50 words)