Growing Up By: Gary Soto

Where does Maria’s family live?

• New York, USA

• California, USA

• Toronto, Canada

• Chihuahua City, Mexico

Where did the father want to take the family on vacation?

• Hawaii

• Disneyland

• San Jose

• Miami

Why didn't Maria want to go on the family vacation?

• She wanted to spend time at home, to finish homework and some chores.

• Maria felt that she had outgrown the "family vacation" times

• She wanted to go shopping with her friends

• Maria had a secret date planned with a boy

"While she walked the four blocks to Becky’s house, she beamed happiness until she passed a man who was on his knees pulling weeds from his flower bed. At his side, a radio was reporting a traffic accident. A big rig had overturned after hitting a car near Salinas, twenty miles from San Jose."

What is the importance of this particular paragraph in this short story?

• This was the precise moment when she saw Becky with a cold Coca Cola.

• Maria realized the man pulling weeds was listening to a very peculiar radio

• It was at this moment when Maria's happiness changed to being worried for her family.

• Maria realized that Salinas and San Jose are very close to her home.

When Maria was at the mall with Becky, what was Maria's excuse that she had to go home as soon as possible?

• She forgot to lock the front door.

• She had left her shopping money on the kitchen table.

• She forgot to feed the family cat.

• She left the water on at home.

In the morning she could barely look at the newspaper. She feared that if she unfolded it, the front page would feature a story about a family from Fresno who had flown off the roller coaster at Great America. Or that a shark had attacked them as they bobbed happily among the white-tipped waves. Something awful is going happen, she said to herself as she poured Rice Krispies into a bowl.

What evidence is found in the text above that supports an overall theme in the short story?

• "a story about a family from Fresno who had flown off a roller coaster"

• The idea that a "shark attacked them as they bobbed happily..."

• "something awful is going to happen, she said to herself and she poured Rice Krispies into a bowl."

Why do you think the author uses "Rice Krispies" as a breakfast option?

• To emphasize that Rice Krispies is a healthy breakfast option

• To show she is still young, still childlike

• For marketing purposes

She hugged her doll. Something was happening to her, and it might be that she was growing up. When the news ended, and a song started playing, she got up and washed her face without looking in the mirror. That night the family went out for Chinese food. Although her brothers fooled around, cracked jokes, and spilled a soda, she was happy. She ate a lot, and when her fortune cookie said, “You are mature and sensible,” she had to agree. And her father and mother did too. The family drove home singing the words to “La Bamba” along with the car radio.

How does the text above support the overall theme or message of the short story?