1. Give the narrator's name.

Her name is Peggy.

2. a) When does the scene take place ?

The scene takes place after the death of George VI, King of England.

b) What do the underlined pronouns refer to ?

"That's only got to come from Wolverton." (line 23) :
The funeral train.

"They're bringing him from the house" (lines 25-26) :
The king's body.

c) In your own words, explain why the characters have gathered on that day.

They want to see the train transporting the Royal Family and pay homage to the late king.

d) Describe the mood that prevails among the British people there. Justify your answer with four quotations from the text.

The British people there are united in grief, mourning, respect and patriotism.

l. 1 : "nobody spoke"
l.7 : "There were people there wearing black armbands"
l. 45 : "Someone called out "God save the King !""
l.45-46 : "Every man there held his cap in his hand bowed his head".
3. In the crowd, there are also American people. Give their names.

Betty, Audrey, Lois Moon and Peggy.

4. Describe the Americans' behaviour towards the group of British people. (40-50 words)

They are willing to speak to them and to show their interest in this exceptional event. they look eager to be accepted as friends and show how much they sympathise. They even try to overcome their reluctance to communicate by offering them gum. (43 words)

5. a) What is the general feeling towards the Americans ? How does that feeling show ? Use your own words. (40-50 words)

The general feeling is one of hostility and contempt for these foreigners who are intruders on such a special occasion for British people. They refuse to speak to them, turn their backs on them. They even resort to insults to show them how unwelcome they are. (47 words)

b) Focus on lines 31 to 33 and say how the protagonists react to that feeling.

They are puzzled, they didn't expect to be rejected in that way.

c) What in the historical context makes them think that they 'were on the same side as these guys' and that they 'were owed a little gratitude.' ?

Knowing that American soldiers helped the British to fight against Hitler and Germany and helped them to win World War II, they think they deserve thankfulness and friendliness.

6. One British character doesn't have the same attitude towards the Americans as the others.
a) What relationship does the character try to establish with them and how ? (30 words)

She tries to respond to their friendly attitude by gradually moving closer to them and answering their question. She is tempted to establish a contact of some sort. (28 words)

b) How does that character feel about the Americans ? Pick out the sentence that best exemplifies that feeling.

She seems to be fascinated by them.

(l.18-19) : "She couldn't take her eyes off Lois in her red jacket".
7. a) Focus on Betty's words and reactions throughout the text. What do they reveal about her personality ? (50 words)

Her attitude shows that she is outspoken and outgoing. From what she says we can gather that she is more interested in having a glimpse at the Royal Family than truly sympathetic and aware of the sadness of the people around her. She may be quite self-centred and a bit superficial. (52 words)

b) What words spoken by another person reveal a similar reaction ?

l.38 : "Lois said "You guys see them around much ? The King and the Queen ? They drive around in their carriage, waving and be-knighting people and stuff ? "

c) Comment on Audrey's reaction to Betty's words.

Audrey seems to be more tactful as she is aware that Betty's words might hurt people's feelings.

8. Focus on the passage from line 41 to the end.
a) What is the climax of the passage ?

It reaches a climax when the train goes by in front of them. It was the moment they all have been waiting for.

b) How do the protagonists gradually perceive the scene ?

Little by little they are overwhelmed by the solemnity of the moment and eventually take it as what it is, a once-in-a-lifetime event.

c) Is the event up the expectations of all the characters ?

As it all happened in a few seconds, both the narrator and Lois feel frustrated. They had expected to see something worth telling about back home, but didn't even make out anything.

Translate from line 14 ("Close up she was younger ...") to line 23 ("... won't be long now, she said.")

De près elle était plus jeune qu'elle n'en avait eu l'air. Trente ans, peut-être même pas. C'est juste qu'elle ne tirait pas le meilleur parti d'elle-même. En fait, il y a des fois où elle ne le fait toujours pas. Au fil des ans, j'ai appris que l'Anglaise moyenne ne prête guère attention à son apparence. Elle est plus susceptible de s'acheter un nouvel outil de jardin que de se faire faire les ongles. Mais là, j'anticipe. Ce matin là, en 52, elle était tout simplement mal fagotée. Elle ne pouvait pas détacher ses yeux de Lois et sa veste rouge. Elle vint se placer juste à côté d'elle.
Betty retrouva sa voix. Elle dit : "Est-ce que par hasard vous connaîtriez l'heure prévue pour l'arrivée ?"
Elle mit un moment à répondre. Peut-être mit elle un moment à comprendre la question. "Ca ne sera plus long maintenant", dit-elle. "Il ne vient que de Wolverton".