A brave couple
- Why did Mary’s father get angry?
- What did he tell his daughter?
- How did most people feel about her marriage?
- What were the first years of her marriage like?
- Why was it difficult for her and her husband to find a home? (write two reasons).
- What jobs did they have?
- What happened last year?
- Why are they happy?
Alapfok (B1) hanganyag szövege:
A brave couple
When Mary told her dad she would marry a black man he got very angry and answered to her, “If you marry that man you will never set foot in my house again.” Mary soon learned that it was not only her father’s hard-hearted attitude, but most people felt the same way about her marriage. The first years of her marriage to Jake when they were living in Birmingham, in the state of Alabama were like hell – no one would speak to them and they couldn’t find anywhere to live because no one wanted to rent an apartment to a black man, and they had no money to buy one. But in spite of all these difficulties they didn’t give up.
As years passed by, gradually life became easier. Mary got teaching jobs, and finally, she ended up as a head teacher at an elementary school. Jake first worked in a factory and then got a job at the post office. Slowly they made friends in their neighbourhood, but it was difficult. Mary used to tell people, “Before I invite you to my home…. my husband is black.” Hearing that some would never talk to her again.
Those times and those problems are over now and last year they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and they are still very much in love, and never regretted what they did and are happy that they married the person they loved, no matter what other people said.
Key:
A brave couple
- Because she told him she would marry a black man.
2. She will never set foot in his house again.
3. The same way (as her father).
4. Like hell.
5. Because no one wanted to rent an apartment to a black man and they had no money to buy one.
6. Mary was a teacher and a head teacher, Jake worked in a factory and at the post office.
7. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
8. Because they married the person they loved.
