Exercise 10, p. 103-104
I was born in Vietnam in 1960. I (had) lived (1) there until 1975 when the
government fell (2) and the communists took (3) over. I will never forget that
moment. I was studying (4) in high school at that time. I was taking (5) a
math test when the director of our school came (6) into the class to announce that
the government had fallen (7). Everyone in my class became (8) silent. The
teacher stopped (9) our test and told (10)us to go home. By the time I got (11)
home from school, my father had already made (12) arrangements to
leave the country. Our lives were (13) in great danger because my father had
worked/had been working (14) for the U.S. military for ten years. We left (15)
in a hurry. We had (16) no time to say good-bye to our friends or pack our
belongings. We took (17) with us only the most necessary things. We left (18)
behind many things that had taken (19) my family years to acquire.
After we (had)left (20) Vietnam, we went (21) to Thailand, where we stayed
(22) for three years. While we were waiting (23) for permission to come to
Canada, we studied/were studying (24) English. We wanted (25) to be prepared
for our life in Canada.
I'll never forget December 5, 1978, one of the happiest days of my life. It was
three o'clock, and I was helping (26) my brother practise his English lesson when
my father ran (27) into our quarters with a letter in his hand. The Canadian
government had given (28) us permission to go to Canada. We were (29) so
excited when my father told/was telling (30) us the news.
When we arrived (31) at Mirabel airport in Montreal on February 6, 1979,
our sponsor was waiting (32) for us. He was holding (33) a sign that said,
"Welcome to Canada, Mr. Ly Tran and family." We were (34) so happy and
excited. My mother started (35) to cry.
Now we have been (36) in Canada for about 15 years. At first, it was (37)
difficult for me to learn English. My little brother and sisters learned (38) it quickly,
but it took (39) me much longer. I attended (40) classes at a CEGEP from 1979 to
1983. I think I learned/have learned (41) to speak English pretty well. But my
mother didn't learn English at the time because she had (42) to stay home to take
care of the little ones.
When the little ones entered (43) high school, my mother started (44) to
study English. About two years ago, she enrolled (45) at Vanier College. She has
learned (46) a lot of English lately. All of us help/have been helping/have
helped (47) her. My younger brother and sisters have forgotten (48) how
to speak Vietnamese already, but I haven't (forgotten)/ won't (forget) (49).
We have had (50) a hard life since we came to Canada, but we made (51) the
right decision to leave when we did.
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