The amazing story of Gerald Nathanson, who graduated at the age of 78 - PAU inglés 2013 País Vasco

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I grew up in wartime Britain and my education was completely destroyed by the war. I was evacuated twice as a child – once, aged five, when the Second World War broke out, and a second time in 1940, when I was sent to Lancashire for two years.
After the war, I worked as a taxi driver for 42 years, but always felt very conscious that I hadn't received an education. So I enrolled in Birkbeck College (London), which specialises in evening classes.
It hasn't been an easy journey, but I feel privileged to have experienced student life. I soon realised that catching up on the education I had missed as a child wouldn't be a simple task. However, I had the support of my tutors who were able to guide me. The other students also helped to carry me through. There were students in their 20s and even one was in her 60s, but the average age was probably around 40.
My family was another source of support and encouragement. My wife Carole put aside everything to help me get my degree. She let me have the dining room, which I covered with books, articles and notes.
The day I found out I'd passed my degree was full of emotion. You can never be sure that you're going to make it – not until you've made it through the last exam. When I saw the results on my computer screen, I called Carole in and we both cried. I couldn't believe it.
The graduation ceremony was one of the proudest moments of my life. My wife, my two sons, my classmates and my tutors were all there to share the moment with me. When I heard my name read out and crossed the stage I was able to say that I truly had fulfilled a lifetime ambition.

 RESPUESTAS

READING COMPREHENSION

I.- Answer questions 1-4 according to the information given in the text. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT

1. Why couldn’t Mr. Nathanson have an education when he was a child? 

He couldn‟t have an education because of the war. WWII started when he was five and he had to be evacuated twice. (p.1)

2. How were his beginnings as a student at university? 

At the beginning, it was difficult for him to start his studies. However, he could progress with the help of his tutors, classmates and family. (p.3)

3. Why did he cry when he knew his final results? 

He wasn‟t so sure that he could graduate. So when he knew he had passed all his exams, he started crying. (p. 5)

4. How did he feel when he graduated? 

He felt very proud because he had been able to do something he had ambitioned all of his life. (p. 6)

II.- Are these statements True or False? Justify your answers based on information from the text, rewriting the original sentences in your own words or quoting properly.

1. The majority of students were 20 years old.

FALSE: The text states that most of his classmates were “probably around 40”, although some others were in their 20s and “even one was in her 60s”. (p. 3)

2. Mrs. Nathanson helped her husband to get his degree. 

TRUE: The text states that Mrs. Nathanson left everything to help him get his degree. She even let him have the dining room exclusively and he filled it with his study materials.

III.- Find the words or expressions in the text that mean 

1. registered, joined, signed up: enrolled (p.2, line 2)

2. help, encouragement, collaboration: support (p. 3, line 3 and p.4, l line 1)

3. discovered, learnt, realised: found out (p. 5, line 1)

4. most honoured, greatest, most gratifying: proudest (p. 6, line 1)

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