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3 The American Midwest Before you read In the following story extract two former US presidents appear in a parade: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. What were they famous for? What do you know about other US presidents and their legacy? Reading: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? by Peter Hedges Read the text about Endora’s Fourth of July Parade. First decide whether the statements (1–7) are true (T) or false (F) and put a cross ( ✘ ) in the correct box. Then identify the sentence in the text which supports your decision. Write the first 4 words of this sentence in the space provided. There may be more than one correct answer; write down only one. The first one (0) has been done for you. 1  2  The novel What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? is set in the fictional Midwest town of Endora, Iowa, and revolves around the lives of the Grape family: Gilbert (24) and his older sister Amy have to look after their 17-year-old brother Arnie, who suffers from a developmental disability. Their father is dead and their mother is too overweight to leave the house. Today is the Fourth of July. […] The town is packed with cars and people from faraway towns like Paxton and Andlan Center who have come to town to watch Endora’s first Fourth of July parade since 1959. […] The paper said something about boys and girls, ages five to twelve, coming dressed in costumes depicting something to do with our nation’s birthday. Of course, the paper should have read, “Boys and girls from ages five to twelve and Arnie Grape” but the Arnie part was assumed. And while I know there are mothers and fathers who think it unfair that Arnie be allowed to compete, they would never say it or try to have him disqualified. The citizens of Endora keep their rage and disgust quiet; their smiles and friendly nods are like fabric softeners for the face. Amy and I scout the competition. There are about nine Uncle Sam costumes – all of which look awful. I see a George and Martha Washington that isn’t bad except there are no powdered wigs. The only real competition is a girl with tremendous breasts. She looks about twenty. She has these antique glasses, a giant needle and yarn for thread, and a huge flag wrapped tightly around her chest. “Betsy Ross is pretty good,” I say to Amy. “Yeah, but in no way is that girl twelve.” “Arnie is seventeen, so …,” I say. “I know,” Amy says, “but Arnie is special.” Special – the nice way of saying it. Across the street comes an Abraham Lincoln. “Hey,” Amy says, “are those the Carver boys?” “Looks like it.” “Great idea,” Amy says. “Yeah, but the execution of it …” Abraham Lincoln towers over the other contestants. Todd, the bigger of the two Carver boys, must be on bottom and Doug rides on his shoulders. It looks like Mrs Betty Carver just took one of her husband’s suits, taped together a hat of black construction paper, and that was that. […] Three chubby girls have tried to capture that image of the one with the pipe, one with the flag, those injured war soldiers. They do not succeed in creating much. […] Arnie is in sight now – easy to spot, too, because he’s twice the size of the other kids. He’s dressed as Washington Crossing the Delaware. Amy sewed the costume. She worked on it for weeks and designed the cardboard boat that I built in an afternoon. The boat hangs from Arnie’s shoulders by elastic straps that give the illusion that he’s actually floating. Janice spent yesterday afternoon coaching Arnie, rehearsing his movements. He walks with his right hand above his forehead, and all modesty aside, he looks great. The people are cheering politely for the other kids, but when they see Washington Crossing the Delaware, they start yelling, “Go, Arnie!” “All right, Arnie!” I scream, “That’s my brother!” and he turns to where Amy and me are standing. But in turning, Arnie decks one of the little Uncle Sams without knowing it. When he hears the little girl scream, he turns to help her up. When he does this, though, the back of his boat smacks into George and Martha Washington. They fall over and George starts crying. Arnie decks a couple more kids before the parents push through the crowd to rescue their fallen children. […] I hear him say to the other kids, “Sorry! Sooorrrrry!” I see Abe Lincoln’s legs walking next to his chest and head, his arms dragging on the cement. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 42 Regional identities Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv