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Chapter 1 CEFR A2, B1, B2 • ~5 min read

I

From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott (Francis Scott) Fitzgerald

Chapter Summary Nick Carraway moves to New York and visits his wealthy cousin Daisy and her arrogant husband Tom for dinner. Beneath their glamorous lifestyle, Nick quickly discovers tension, secrets, and painful marital trouble.

Before You Read: Target Vocabulary

Essential words to understand this chapter easily.

Vocabulary Preview

reserve

/rɪˈzɜːv/

To hold back or delay an opinion, feeling, or judgment until later.

prominent

/ˈprɒmɪnənt/

Important, well-known, and respected in a community.

mansion

/ˈmænʃn/

A very large, impressive, and expensive house.

arrogant

/ˈærəɡənt/

Behaving in an unpleasant way because you believe you are better or more important than others.

Chapter Text Preview

When I was younger and more vulnerable, my father gave me some advice that I have remembered ever since. "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone," he told me, "just remember that not everyone has had the same advantages as you." Because of this advice, I formed the habit of reserving all judgements about people. This habit helped me understand many different personalities, though it also meant that I often had to listen to boring and selfish men. My family has been prominent and well-to-do in our Midwestern city for three generations. After graduating from college and returning from the Great...

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