What's for dinner?
What are fruits and vegetables grown on farms called?
Crops
Who invented roller skates, and when?
John Joseph Merlin, in the 1760s.
What is Nevaeh’s relationship with Jorge and Robyn?
They are her foster parents.
What did traditional maps fail to show about the Earth?
The ocean floor.
Why did Yu-Lan (Mary) dread going to school?
What did Yu-Lan’s mother do to help her learn English?
She was afraid of not understanding English and being laughed at.
She sacrificed her resting time to study and memorize five new words a day with Yu-Lan.
Why do modern tomatoes need thicker skins?
To survive shipping long distances without getting smashed.
What was Seishu Hanaoka's significant medical invention, and how did it help patients?
General anesthesia; it allowed patients to undergo surgery without feeling pain
Why does Jorge call Nevaeh his "little piece of heaven"?
Because Nevaeh is "heaven" spelled backward.
Who was Marie Tharp’s research partner, and what was their main goal?
Bruce Heezen; their goal was to map the entire ocean floor.
How did Yu-Lan’s mother inspire her during their English lessons?
What accomplishment did Yu-Lan’s mother achieve as a result of learning English?
Her mother’s confidence and determination motivated Yu-Lan, even though English was new to both of them.
She passed the postal entrance exam and started a new career.
What is selective breeding, and how did it help watermelons?
Selective breeding is choosing plants with desired traits to grow. It helped watermelons become larger, sweeter, and easier to ship.
Why was Margaret E. Knight's invention of the flat-bottomed paper bag important?
It made paper bags more practical by allowing them to hold items securely, like today's grocery bags.
What is the significance of planting milkweed in the garden?
Milkweed provides food for monarch larvae (caterpillars) and helps attract monarch butterflies.
What tool did Tharp and Heezen use to measure ocean depth, and how did it work?
They used a continuous echo sounder. It sent sound waves (pings) to the ocean floor and recorded the time it took for the echo to return.
Why did Avni dislike shopping trips?
What unusual behavior did Auntie Tara exhibit in the store before she fainted?
She hated trying on clothes and felt self-conscious about people’s opinions.
She started talking about “glorious spots” and acted as if she could see things that weren’t there.
What is the purpose of "Golden Rice," and how is it genetically engineered?
Golden Rice was developed to help prevent Vitamin A deficiency by adding a gene that produces Vitamin A.
What problem did Gideon Sundback solve to improve the modern zipper, and where were his first zippers used?
He added more teeth to prevent zippers from opening too easily; they were first used in boots and pouches.
How does the community garden help Nevaeh feel connected to her past?
It reminds her of her late foster mom, Sonya, who loved gardening and used to grow milkweed.
What significant discovery did Tharp make about the Atlantic Ocean?
She found evidence of a rift that supported the theory of continental drift.
How did Avni manage to get help when Auntie Tara fainted?
What caused Auntie Tara’s fainting spell in the store?
She threw handfuls of bright clothes into the air to attract attention from the store clerks.
She experienced a severe migraine with an aura, a warning sign of the headache.
How does vertical farming differ from traditional farming, and what are two benefits it offers?
Vertical farming grows crops in tall buildings using controlled environments, not soil. Benefits include using less water and avoiding pesticides.
How did Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena's invention of color television impact the world?
It introduced vibrant, color broadcasting that transformed the viewing experience globally.
How does Nevaeh's perspective about her role as a foster child change by the end of the story?
She feels less like a "poor foster child" and realizes she can help others, making her foster home feel like a "milkweed plant" where she can grow and thrive.
How did Heinrich Berann contribute to Tharp’s work, and why was his role important?
Berann, a map artist, painted the Tharp-Heezen map to make it visually appealing and accurate. His work helped communicate their discoveries to the world.
How did Avni’s feelings about Auntie Tara change by the end of the story?
Avni grew closer to Auntie Tara, offering to support her during her doctor’s visit and even wanting to try on the red pants Tara picked out.