The Book of Unknown Americans

What is the main conflict in the story?

• September 11th attacks in the United States

• The Toro Family's inability to return to Panama

• Disorder in the country of Panama

• The tension between Mayor's parents

Which excerpt from the selection best represents the theme that immigrants are sometimes confused about their identity?

• I spent a lot of time trying to find it in me, but usually I couldn’t. I felt more American than anything, but even that was up for debate. . . . (paragraph 3)

• That year around the holidays we were all miserable. Holidays were always bad. . . . (paragraph 26)

• I let her, too, even though every time she did, instead of comforting me, it only made me more scared. (paragraph 24)

• I was less than a year old when my parents brought my brother and me to the United States. (paragraph 1)

Read these sentences from paragraph 4.

They had left their lives once before. They didn’t want to do it again.

What theme is suggested by these sentences?

• Moving somewhere new will not make your life better.

• Once you leave a place, people will forget you.

• People should be happy with what they have.

• Stating over in a new place is difficult

Read these sentences from paragraph 12.

“They think we’re Americans now. And maybe we are! Maybe we don’t belong there anymore after all.”

What causes the father to make this statement?

• The father regrets leaving Panamá with his family because he now knows that his classmates are angry that he left their country and got a job.

• The class president accuses the father of thinking he is better than everyone who stayed in Panamá because the father left and became an American citizen.

• The class president suggests that American citizenship has no value.

• The father respects the class president and wants to return to Panamá.

Look at the dictionary entry below.

froth \frôth\ n 1. a fit of anger or vexation 2. something unsubstantial or trivial 3. salivary foam released as a result of disease or exhaustion 4. high prices unwarranted by economic fundamentals

Which definition most closely matches the way the word froth is used in paragraph 22?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Choose the phrase in the underlined section of the sentence below that uses an ellipsis in
the correct place.

We always meant to go back to Panamá but the . . . years just passed us by.

• to Panamá but the years . . .

• to Panamá . . . but the years

• to . . . Panamá but the years

• correct as is

How do paragraphs 23–25 advance the plot?

• They introduce the conflict between the narrator and his mother.

• They introduce the reason the family takes a trip to the beach.

• They describe the climax in which another obstacle prevents the family from returning to Panama.

• They resolve the conflict because the family now wants to stay in the United States to support it.

What lesson does the narrator learn when his family goes to the beach?

• Enrique is shallow because he is only concerned about his sneakers.

• His mother likes living in America even though she misses her old home.

• American beaches are more beautiful than beaches in Panama.

• His parents have moved on from thinking of Panama as their home.

How does setting influence the theme of the story? Cite text evidence in your response.