Question 1

How does the setting influence the plot of the story?

Accepted Answer

The conditions on the boat contribute to the conflict Pavel experiences.

Answer

Pavel’s fellow passengers encourage him to remain hopeful about purchasing land.

Answer

The letter from Pavel’s uncle introduces an important character.

Answer

The man standing in front of the soup pot provides comic relief.

Question 2

Which of these is the best summary of the story?

Accepted Answer

Pavel is traveling with many other immigrants on a boat to America. To avoid thinking about the smelly, crowded conditions, Pavel reflects on a letter from his uncle, who has settled in Texas. Pavel shows that he is focused on his goals when he thinks of a way to avoid a bully.

Answer

Pavel is immigrating to America to join his uncle. Many other people are also making the long journey to America. On the lowest deck of the boat, it is very crowded. Pavel thinks of a song to sing, and eventually others begin to sing and dance, too.

Answer

Some immigrants traveling to America are crowded together in the lowest deck of a boat. Pavel thinks about a letter from his uncle that tells about the life that Pavel will find when he reaches Texas. The letter describes the beautiful sky, the clean air, and the promise of endless farmland. Pavel looks forward to being there.

Answer

The trip to America is a long and difficult one, and the space below the decks is crowded and smelly. The only food is soup that the travelers must share. Pavel thinks about the people on the upper decks who can eat while sitting at a table. He finally gets soup for himself.

Question 3

What is the best summary of the story?

Accepted Answer

Kirby is shooting baskets in the gym before basketball tryouts. His cousin Bragger wants him to try out for the team because Kirby loves basketball, but Kirby insists he is not good enough as a player. As Coach Armstrong hands out permission slips, Kirby considers contributing to the team in a way that does not include playing.

Answer

While Kirby shoots baskets in the gym, he thinks about what it would be like to be a star basketball player. When some other boys ask him to stop standing around, he attempts a shot. Even though the ball misses the basket, Kirby’s cousin Bragger tells Kirby he is not as bad as he thinks.

Answer

After Kirby misses a basketball shot, his cousin Bragger offers him some advice about technique. Kirby does not want to take Bragger seriously and insists that he will not try out for the team, despite his love of the game. Bragger decides that he will have to make sure the team wins and attempts a shot at the basket.

Answer

Even though Kirby doubts his ability to play basketball, his cousin Bragger wants him to try out for the team. Kirby says he will not try out for the team, even though he loves basketball. As Coach Armstrong hands out permission slips, Kirby tries to convince himself that he will not try out for the team.

Question 4

How does the setting contribute to Kirby’s conflict in the story?

Accepted Answer

It makes him feel insecure about his basketball skills.

Answer

It gives him an opportunity to learn from skilled basketball players.

Answer

It allows him to share information about his favorite basketball players.

Answer

It forces him to have an uncomfortable conversation with the coach.

Question 5

How does the setting advance the plot of the story?

Accepted Answer

It allows the characters to witness an uncommon event.

Answer

It offers the characters a chance to develop new relationships.

Answer

It causes the characters to feel unsafe.

Answer

It gives the characters the opportunity to identify a problem.

Question 6

Why doesn’t the narrator watch the other turtles hatch at the end of the story?

Accepted Answer

He is consumed by his thoughts about the first turtle’s destiny.

Answer

He is concerned that his mother has started worrying again.

Answer

He doesn’t want to ruin the experience for the little girl.

Answer

He doesn’t have the patience to observe such a long process.

Question 7

What is the best summary of the story?

Accepted Answer

The narrator is on a family vacation in Florida. While on an evening walk along the beach, the narrator and his mother have the opportunity to watch baby sea turtles hatch and struggle toward the ocean. The turtles remind the mother of her younger son, who is traveling alone to Los Angeles. The narrator hopes that the first newly hatched sea turtle will overcome the odds and survive in the ocean.

Answer

The narrator and his mother decide to walk on the beach at sunset, but it soon becomes dark. They meet a little girl and her mother, who explains that a nest of sea turtles has unexpectedly begun to hatch. The woman asks whether the narrator and his mother have a cell phone so that she can call her husband, but they do not. The narrator and his mother leave, but they return when the little girl yells that a turtle is out of the nest.

Answer

A little girl tells people walking on the beach that some baby turtles are hatching. The narrator and his mother join the girl and her mother in watching the turtles, which are hatching about 10 days earlier than expected. The girl asks her mother where the first turtle is going and learns that it must swim to the Sargasso Sea. The narrator admires the small turtles’ determination to cross the sand and reach the water.

Answer

While on vacation the narrator and his mother come across a nest of hatching sea turtles. The narrator listens as a woman explains to her young daughter that the small turtles will travel far across the ocean. A small crowd watches the turtles make their way across the sand. The narrator tries to continue watching the first turtle after the waves pull it out to sea, but the creature is soon hidden from view.

Question 8

The setting is important to the plot because it is where the narrator —

Accepted Answer

has interesting discussions with Jim

Answer

works with Jim to solve problems

Answer

can study with minimal interruptions

Answer

realizes he is good at scientific investigation

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