From "The Book of Unknown Americans" Review

What is the main conflict throughout the story?

• The Toro family's inability to return to Panamá

• September 11 attacks in the United States

• The tension between Mayor's parents

• Disorder in the country of Panamá

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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

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

• 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)

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

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

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

• Starting over in a new place is difficult.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

List the events in the order in which they happen in the story.

• The narrator's father takes them to the beach to remember Panama.

• The narrator's father finds out how his high school classmates feel about him leaving Panama.

• The narrator explains the story of when his family left Panama.

• The family members become American citizens.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.8.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

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.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Look at the dictionary entry below. froth \ˈfrȯth\ 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

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

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

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

How do paragraphs 23–25 advance the plot?

• They introduce 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 Panamá.

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

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

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 Panamá.

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

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How does setting influence the theme of the story? Cite text evidence in your response using the link below. Use the format below to help you.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jTRCG3dg1UkXEeTha010yysOI2jzPamsSJDyPDxYEAY/edit?usp=sharing

The setting influences the theme of the story by ____(write what part of the time/place shows the message or what we can learn from the text). For example, the text states, "_____" (para. ____). In other words, _____(explain what is happening in the story). This supports the theme of ______ (write what the message is that we can learn) because _____ (write how part of the time/place shows the theme you chose). In conclusion, the setting influences the theme of the story by ____ (reword what you said in the first sentence).

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3