MY LEFT FOOT, by Christy Brown

Why wasn't the author given a name immediately after his birth?

• His parents couldn't agree on it.

• The author’s mother was sent to recuperate for

  some weeks after his birth. He remained in the

  hospital without a name until she was well

  enough to take him to church to be baptised.

• Doctors told his parents he wouldn't survive because of his cerebral palsy.

When Christy was five, something happened that changed his life. What was it?

• He reached out with his left foot and took a bright piece of yellow chalk out of his sister’s hand. He held the chalk between his toes and made a scribble.

• He met Dr Collis.

• He began to use the go-cart pushed by his brothers.

After Christy realised he was different from others, he felt very depressed. How did he overcome his depression?

• He began to read lots of books.

• He met Miss Delahunt, a student social worker at the Rotunda Hospital.

• Christy traded his own Christmas gift of toy soldiers for his brother Paddy’s box of paints, and got involved in painting.

Why did a newspaper reporter and photographer come to visit Christy?

• They wanted to help Christy buy a new handcart when his go-cart broke down.

• Dr Collis had been thinking about Christy’s future and realised that Christy needed more publicity in order to raise funds to develop his talent.

• Christy had entered a Christmas painting contest in the Sunday Independent newspaper. Miss Delahunt had told the newspaper how Christy had painted his picture with his left foot, so they came to meet Christy and take a photograph of him painting.

Why did Dr Collis come to visit Christy?

• Dr Collis felt that Christy was ready to attend a school or university.

• He came to tell Christy that there was a new treatment for cerebral palsy which could help him.

• He wanted to help the family build the house in the back garden for Christy's treatment.

Christy felt .......... when he was being examined by Mrs Eirene Collis in London.

• a. crippled

• b. on trial

• c. hopeless

Christy described .......... as a man “with a smiling moon-like face, small eyes and a pointed beard, like a giant out of a fairy story”.

• a. Dr Collis

• b. his father

• c. Burl Ives

Christy saw his future as a black pit ......... he was told about the new treatment.

• although

• when

• until

The house had been planned as an exercise space. ............., it became Christy’s living-room and study.

• However

• Therefore

• In this way

• Nevertheless

What was the first thing Christy was taught at the new clinic in Bull Alley Street?

• He was given his primary education with a qualified teacher.

• He was taught to develop and strengthen proper hand and foot movements.

• He was taught to relax his muscles and his mind.