Question 1

How does paragraph 28 contribute to the development of the plot?

Accepted Answer

It highlights that Elena feels upset about spoiling Marcos’s surprise.

Answer

It indicates that Elena’s family enjoys spending time together.

Answer

It reveals that Elena is upset with her mother for forgetting to act surprised.

Answer

It shows that Elena feels shy toward Marcos because he has been gone for so long.

Question 2

Read this sentence from paragraph 27.

As Marcos hugged Mom, he looked accusinglyover her shoulder at Elena—the aroma of freshcookies in the air whispered to him that hisvisit was no surprise.

What does the author’s use of personification emphasize?

Accepted Answer

Marcos realizes Mom has prepared in advance for his visit.

Answer

Mom understands what Marcos likes to eat.

Answer

Elena wishes that Marcos had not noticed the smell of the cookies.

Answer

Marcos feels welcomed by the smell of his favorite cookies.

Question 3

Because the story is told from the third-person limited point of view, the reader knows —

Accepted Answer

how Elena feels about her actions

Answer

what Mom thinks about the upcoming anniversary party

Answer

why Aunt Laura revealed the secret to Mom

Question 4

What does the word futile mean in paragraph 8?

Accepted Answer

Useless

Answer

Effortless

Answer

Boring

Answer

Troubling

Question 5

Read this sentence from paragraph 20.

Suddenly, Elena’s cheeks felt as if they were on fire.

What does the author’s use of figurative language in this sentence suggest?

Accepted Answer

Elena is embarrassed because Mom is not supposed to know about Marcos’s visit.

Answer

Elena is angry with her aunt for telling Mom that Marcos is coming to visit.

Answer

Elena panics because she was caught pretending.

Answer

Elena begins to feel ill as she rests in her room.

Question 6

In what way do Mom’s actions in paragraph 26 affect the plot?

Accepted Answer

They make it difficult for Elena to enjoy her brother’s arrival.

Answer

They cause Marcos to change his plans for visiting the family.

Answer

They cause Aunt Laura to realize that she made a mistake by confiding in Mom.

Answer

They lead the family to arrange a different date for the anniversary party.

Question 7

What is the best summary of the story?

Accepted Answer

Marcos plans a surprise visit home and asks his sister Elena to keep his secret. However,Elena tells her cousin, and Mom eventually hears about the plan. Marcos arrives andrealizes his visit is not a surprise. Elena feels sorry and apologizes, and she is forgiven.

Answer

Marcos wants to travel home from California and surprise his parents for their anniversaryparty. He asks Elena to keep his secret, but she tells her cousin Gemma. Marcos is at firstupset that Elena told his secret but then shares some cookies with her that Mom baked.

Answer

Elena tries to keep her brother Marcos’s surprise visit to herself. When her cousin Gemmavisits, Elena tells her the secret. When Mom finds out, she starts to get the house readyfor Marcos. She bakes his favorite cookies, and Marcos eats them when he arrives.

Answer

Elena answers the phone and her brother Marcos tells her he is planning a surprise visithome. He is coming for their parents’ anniversary party. Elena tells Gemma who then tellsAunt Laura who then tells Mom. Marcos is upset that Mom knows his surprise.

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