Question

One of the most popular literary figures in American literature is a woman who spent almost half of her
long life in China, a country on a continent thousands of miles from the United States. In her lifetime she
earned this country's most highly acclaimed literary award: the Pulitzer Prize, and also the most almost a household word throughout much of her lifetime because of her prolific literary output, which
consisted of some eighty - five published works, including several dozen novels, six collections of short
stories, fourteen books for children, and more than a dozen works of nonfiction. When she was eighty
years old, some twenty - five volumes were awaiting publication. Many of those books were set in China,
the land in which she spent so much of her life. Her books and her life served as a bridge between the
cultures of the East and the West. As the product of those two cultures she became as the described
herself, "mentally bifocal." Her unique background made her into an unusually interesting and versatile
human being. As we examine the life of Pearl Buck, we cannot help but be aware that we are in fact
meeting three separate people: a wife and mother, an internationally famous writer and a humanitarian
and philanthropist. One cannot really get to know Pearl Buck without learning about each of the three.
Though honored in her lifetime with the William Dean Howell Medal of the American Academy of Arts
and Letters in addition to the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes. Pearl Buck as a total human being, not only a
famous author, is a captivating subject of study.
A- Read the text and answer the questions
1- Where is Pearl Back from?
2- What awards did she get during her literary career?
3- Why was she considered as a household word throughout much of her life time?
4- Did she publish any books when she was an elderly?
B. Find in the text words that mean the same as:
- Admired and praised: L3 ……………………. - Productive and creative:L6……………………
- Significant: L4 ……………………………… - A bond and link:L10 ……………
- attractive:L18…………………
C- Decide whether these statements are true or false? Justify?
1- Pearl Back produced only fictional literary works. 2- Pearl Back spent most of her life in USA.

Answer 1

Explanation: Answer to Part A Question 1

• Pearl Back was a popular literary figure in the field of American literature.
• She was from China where she spent half of her life before coming down to America.

Answer to Part A Question 2

• During her lifetime she was awarded with the most highly acclaimed literary award, The Pulitzer Prize.
• Along with the above award she was also awarded with the William Dean Howell Medal of the American Academy of Arts  and Letters .

Answer to Part A Question 3

• She was considered as a household word because of her outstanding literary output.
• Her work included around eighty five published works which also included several dozen novels, six collections of short  stories, fourteen books for children, and more than a dozen works of nonfiction.
• Her life and books acted as a bridge between the  cultures of the West and the East .

Answer to Part A Question 4

• At the age of eighty  around twenty - five volumes were still pending for publication.
• Many of these books were set in China.

Hope this helps.