Vocabulary
What is civil?
very weak; not substantial
What is tenuous?
What's the main character's name?
What is Jerry?
Growing up is more about what?
What is the experiences?
The test the narrator, the girl, takes in the end.
What is the SAT?
aware of something or of one’s surroundings
What is concious?
A system of ranking groups of people one above the other.
What is hierarchy?
How did Jerry figure out about the tunnel?
What is he watched the older boys dive and was inspired?
What is a major event that happens at 16 years old which may make you feel like you are "growing up"?
Getting your driver's license.
What is China (northern)?
feeling or expressing guilt, regret, or remorse
What is contrite?
disobedience or resistance to someone else’s wishes
What is defiance?
What was one of the ways Jerry needed to improve in order to make the swim?
What is his breathing? Being able to see under water? Not getting nose bleeds?
A big moment when you realize your parents pay for all of your gifts during December.
What is the truth about Santa?
The narrator's friend's name.
Who is Cat?
pointless; unable to produce any useful result
What is futile?
extreme hopefulness or belief in something, especially when it’s unrealistic
What is idealism?
What happened every time Jerry pushed himself too far?
What is a nosebleed?
Marking time with major events in your life for example quinceanera, first car, graduation.
What is Growing Up?
Why is the mother so strict over everything the daughter does?
What is because of all her friends dying at the protest at Tiananmen Square?
lack of worldly experience; lack of guilt or evil intention
What is innocence?
To surrender or acknowledge defeat
What is concede?
How long did Jerry have to hold his breath in order to make it all the way through the tunnel in the end?
What is two to three minutes?
You can mark the passage of time and growing up remembering major events. For example, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina.
What is Big News?
Does the narrator finish the SAT?
What is YES? she just slips out the back at the end.