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Who paid attention to the author during his thirty years of teaching in New York City high schools?
His colleagues
His students
The media
The school administration
What event changed the author’s visibility in the world outside school?
Writing a book about his childhood
Winning a teaching award
Moving to another country
etiring from teaching
What was the author’s initial hope for his book?
To win a Pulitzer Prize
To be adapted into a movie
To become a best-seller
To explain family history and sell a few hundred copies
How successful did the book become compared to his expectations?
It became a best-seller and was translated into thirty langu
It sold a few hundred copies
It was only popular in Ireland
t was ignored by critics
At what age was the author when his first book was published?
Sixty-six
Seventy-six
Sixty-nine
Fifty-six
What is the title of his first book?
The Manhattan Telephone Directory
Angela’s Ashes
Irish Memoirs
’Tis
Why does the author call himself a “late bloomer”?
He started teaching late in life
He published his first book as a teenager
He achieved literary success late in life
He retired early
How did people’s attitude toward the author change after his book became famous?
They ignored him
They asked him to return to teaching
They treated him with respect and sought his opinions
They criticized his teaching methods
What does the author mean by “the book was my second act”?
It marked a new phase in his life, a major change from being an unnoticed teacher to a celebrated author.
What is the title of his second book and when was it published?
Tis, published in 1999 when he was sixty-nine.
What reason does the author give for not writing earlier in life?
He was overwhelmed by teaching five high school classes a day, leaving no time or energy for writing.
How does the author contrast the life of university professors with his own teaching experience?
He suggests professors have time for writing and diversions, while high school teachers are consumed by daily classroom demands.
Why does the author describe himself as “a geriatric novelty with an Irish accent”?
Because he was an older man who suddenly became famous, and his Irish background added to his uniqueness.
What does the author imply about the demands of teaching five high school classes a day?
It is exhausting and mentally draining, leaving little room for creative work.
What does the author suggest about society’s fascination with fame?
People treat famous individuals as authorities on unrelated topics and give them special attention.
Why does the author mention meeting famous people such as Gregory Peck and the Pope?
To illustrate the dramatic change in his life and the level of recognition he received after becoming famous.
