Vocabulary
What is a panhandler?
A person who asks strangers for money or food, often on the street.
Who is the main character who befriends Maurice?
Who is Laura?
What evidence from the text suggests Maurice began imagining a different future for himself?
Maurice wanted a table like Laura's someday.
What is a central idea of A Simple Act?
One person's kindness can make a difference
What does the table represent?
Symbolizes togetherness
What does destined mean?
A word meaning certain to become or achieve something in the future.
Where does Laura first meet Maurice?
Where does Laura meet Maurice on the street of New York?
What evidence best shows Laura genuinely cared about Maurice?
Laura continued helping Maurice even after their first meeting
Which event from the story best develops the central idea?
Laura's decision to help Maurice.
How does Maurice's mindset change throughout the story?
Maurice's mindset changes from focusing on his immediate struggles to believing he can have a brighter future.
What is welfare?
Government assistance provided to people in need.
What item/s does Maurice ask Laura for when they first meet?
What is food and change?
Which piece of evidence from the text best supports the inference that Maurice valued the feeling of belonging?
Maurice's reaction to the family dinner
What relationship helps communicate the central idea?
The friendship between Laura and Maurice.
What causes Maurice's mindset to change throughout the story?
Maurice's perspective changes because he is exposed to experiences that challenge what he thought was possible.
What does encourage mean?
To give someone support, confidence, or hope to do something.
What surprised Maurice most when he visited Laura's home?
What is the large dining room table where the family ate together?
Why did the dining room table have such a strong impact on Maurice?
Maurice saw a stable and loving family environment.
Which detail from the story best supports the central idea that positive experiences can inspire future goals?
Maurice's desire to have a family table someday.
Why does the author emphasize the family's time together?
The family's time together shows Maurice what a supportive and connected family environment looks like.
What does influence mean?
To affect someone's thoughts, decisions, or actions.
What promise does Maurice make after seeing Laura's family?
What is that he wants a table like that when he has a family of his own?
Which detail from the text best supports the inference that Maurice developed hope for his future?
"I want a table like that when I have a family of my own." (paragraph 6).
What is the best statement of the central idea of the text?
Small acts of kindness can create lasting change in someone's life.
How does the interaction between Laura and Maurice contribute to the overall meaning of the text?
Maurice's experiences with Laura help shape his hopes and future goals.