Comprehension (A)
I grew up in the south of Spain in a little community called Estepona. I was 16 when one morning, my father told me I could drive him into a remote village called Mijas, about 18 miles away, on the condition that I take the car to be serviced at a nearby garage. Having just learned to drive and hardly ever having the opportunity to use the car, I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas and promised to pick him up at 4 p.m., then drove to a nearby garage and dropped off the car. Because I had a few hours to spare, I decided to catch a couple of movies at a theatre near the garage. However, I became so immersed in the films that I completely lost track of time. When the last movie had finished, I looked down at my watch. It was six o'clock. I was two hours late!
I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I'd been watching movies. He'd never let me drive again. I decided to tell him that the car needed some repairs and that they had taken longer than had been expected. I drove up to the place where we had planned to meet and saw Dad waiting patiently on the corner. I apologised for being late and told him that I'd come as quickly as I could, but the car had needed some major repairs. I'll never forget the look he gave me.
"I'm disappointed that you feel you have to lie to me, Jason."
"What do you mean? I'm telling the truth.".
Questions:
i. What titles could be given to the passage. Write a brief summary of passage.
ii. Interpret the expressions "drove Dad into Mijas" and "dropped off the car" in the context of the passage.
iii. Analyze the consequences of the narrator's decision to watch movies instead of servicing the car, and the impact it has on his relationship with his father.
iv. How does the passage present the idea of honesty and the consequences of lying within a family context?
v. What theme or message is conveyed through the interaction between the narrator and his father, especially regarding trust and truthfulness?
vi. In what ways can individuals apply the lesson learned in the passage to their own lives, particularly in terms of honesty and communication in family relationships?
