UNIT 2- GIFTS OF YOUTHS

Mr. ELBAZ ABDESSAMAD

2BAC – READING COMPREHENSION

1 Touria Chaoui is the first Moroccan and Arab

young woman to consider flying. Daughter of an
intellectual and a forward-thinking father, she
successfully became a female pilot, a hero for so
many girls in the Kingdom at a time when the French
protectorate was still taking control of the country.
However, Touria’s success story and glorious
achievement took a tragic turn when she was only 19
years old in a mysterious incident.
2 Touria is now resting at the Ahl Fas cemetery in Casablanca next to her father’s lonely
grave. Born in Fes on the 14th of December, 1936, she was the eldest daughter of the
Chaoui couple, Abdelwahed and Zina. The father who was one of the few French-speaking
journalists, a theater director and a figure of nationalism in the colonized Kingdom has
raised his only daughter as a boy.
3 Moving to Casablanca has also been a turning point in the life of the young girl.
According to an article issued by Zamane in 2012, the Fasi family left the northern city for
Casablanca in 1948. Once in Casablanca, Touria and her youngest brother «rubbed
shoulders with the greatest figures of the Moroccan nationalist movement, such as Allal El
Fassi and Ahmed Balafrej, thanks to their father a well-respected intellectual», recalled the
history magazine.
4 Touria, and unlike girls her age at the époque, was dreaming of becoming a pilot. She
wanted to fly, a dream that her father respected and worked on realizing. In 1951, and after
graduating high school, the journalist enrolled his daughter into the aviation school based
in Tit Mellil. As hard and unusual as it sounded at the time, Touria was the only first
Moroccan girl to step in the aviation school reserved for the French Forces. Historical
accounts suggest that her enrollment was fought and that she had to struggle to be finally
accepted at the aviation program.
5 By the age of 15, Touria received her aviation license and her story became a national
pride. According to Centennial of Women Pilots, a platform that celebrates female pilots, «in
1952, Touria was actually the first aviatrix from the Arab world».
6 On the 1st of March 1956, one day before the signing of the independence decree,
Touria Chaoui couldn’t escape her killer. Historical sources suggest that she was killed by
Ahmed Touil, a man with a troubled past who was involved in nationalist resistance and
who was rumored of being in love with the 19-year-old aviatrix. Regardless of speculations,
Touria’s death is still a mystery.
COMPREHENSION (BASE YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT)
A. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER. (TICK THE RIGHT ANSWER)
The writer’s attitude towards Chaoui’s accomplishment:
1- supportive
2- neutral
3- unsupportive
B. FILL IN THE CHART WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT.

Date Events

1936 ………………………………………………

……… Touria moved to Casablanca

1951 ………………………………………………

……… Touria received her aviation license

C. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.

Touria’s father belonged to the Moroccan nationalist movement.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Touria was enrolled in the aviation school when she finished secondary school.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Touria was killed on the day of the signing of the independence decree.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

D. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

Touria was only 19 years old when …………………………………………………...........................
Not only was her father a …………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………..………in order to be accepted at the aviation program.
E. PICK OUT FROM THE TEXT SENTENCES OR PHRASES WHICH SHOW THAT:
Morocco was still colonized when Touria became a pilot.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Touria was raised as the opposite gender.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
It is unfamiliar to have girls enrolled in aviation programs at that time.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

F. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS:
- modern ……………………………… …………………………(parag 1)
- come into contact with ………………………………………(parag 3)
- declaration………………………………………………………(parag 6)

G. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS REFERS TO:

figures ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
it …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

H. PUT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS IN THE CORRECT ORDER ACCORDING TO THE

TEXT.
a- Casablanca was a place wherein Touria’s life changed for better.
b. The murder of Touria is still a puzzling issue.
c. Touria obtained the authorization of aviation at an early age.
d. Touria was enrolled in an aviation school.
1: ………… 2: …………. 3: ………… 4: …………

Summary
Write a five-line summary laying a finger on the most important events in Touria
Chaoui’s story. Use the given linking words:
To begin with,…………………………………………………………………………….……….…………..
………………………………Next, ……………………………………………………………………………..
…….......................................................Then,………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………After that,.................................
…………………………………………………………………………………………………Finally,…………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………