Understanding Personal and Professional Influences

The speaker reflects on the influence of his parents, particularly his father's craftsmanship as a tailor, on his own pride in writing. He recounts his early life, education, and career in journalism, emphasizing the importance of integrity in the profession. He also discusses his personal sense of fashion and the role it played in his work as a journalist in New York during the mid-20th century.

What profession did the narrator's father have, which influenced the narrator's sense of pride in his work?

• Carpenter

• Tailor

• Painter

• Chef

How does the narrator relate his father's craftsmanship to his own career?

• By focusing on speed over quality

• By ignoring the details

• By valuing the longevity and impact of his work

• By prioritizing quantity over quality

What does the narrator say about the longevity of his father's work?

• It was temporary

• It was quickly forgotten

• It often outlived him

• It was not well-crafted

In which year did the narrator move to New York to stay?

• 1950

• 1965

• 1949

• 1956

Who was a contemporary of the narrator in journalism during the mid-50s?

• Tom Wolfe

• Ernest Hemingway

• F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Mark Twain

What did the narrator and Tom Wolfe have in common during their journalism careers?

• They both worked for the same newspaper

• They both started in the 1960s

• They both had a strong sense of fashion

• They both disliked journalism

What was the narrator's perception of the integrity of journalists at the New York Times?

• They were more likely to lie than others

• They were less likely to lie than others

• They were indifferent to truth

• They were always dishonest

Which profession does the narrator express a strong cynicism towards?

• Doctors

• Lawyers

• Politicians

• Teachers

What does the narrator believe about the honesty of business people?

• They are more honest than journalists

• They are indifferent to truth

• They are generally honest

• They are often dishonest

What was the narrator's view on the role of journalists in society?

• They were more important than teachers

• They were irrelevant

• They were crucial in providing truth

• They were less important than politicians