Ellis Island
Who can you infer is the “tall woman, green”?
The Statue of Liberty
What problem is the farmer facing?
His crops are drying up due to a lack of rainfall.
Why is the fire-mountain a friend to the villagers?
Because it provides them with extra heat during cold winter nights.
Who is the main character in "The Gordion Knot"?
Alexander The Great
What is a thesis statement?
The main idea of the essay; the argument that will be defended in the body paragraphs. Usually the last sentence of the intro paragraph.
Who is the author referring to when he references "Lands of those who followed the changing Moon, knowledge of the seasons in their veins."?
The Native Americans
What does the first raindrop decide to do?
The raindrop decides to try to help the farmer by going to the field.
What happens in Part II that negatively affects the villagers?
The fire-mountain (volcano) erupts in a great frolic of flames, and destroys the village.
What was the ancient prophecy?
That whoever unties The Gordion Knot would become master of all Asia.
What is a topic sentence?
The first sentence of a body paragraph that expresses a main idea that supports the thesis statement.
What is the function of Ellis Island?
The place immigrants from Europe used to arrive to America.
Why is the first raindrop's action significant?
It inspires the other raindrops to follow, which leads to a rainfall that waters the farmers' crops.
What does The First Hummingbird symbolize?
Hope for the future, and that good can arise out of something bad.
What 2 actions did Alexander The Great perform which indicates he is impatient and bold/daring?
1. Cutting the Gordion Knot directly instead of untying it.
2. Jumping into the freezing stream despite his attendants warning against it.
What are some strategies for supporting a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
Listing 2-3 reasons or facts that support the topic sentence. For each reason or fact:
- Use specific examples with visual or auditory imagery to paint a picture in the reader's mind.
- Incorporate numerical data and statistics, and charts/graphs.
What is the central theme of the poem?
America has a complicated history of giving hope to some (immigrants) while taking it from others (the Native Americans)
What is something in your own life you can do to emulate the first raindrop's behavior?
Any answer which entails taking initiative with some action that might inspire others to follow.
What is the difference between The Great Spirit and The Fire Spirit?
The Great Spirit is the spirit that oversees all of life and looks out for the well-being of the villagers, while The Fire Spirit is the spirit of the fire-mountain (volcano) itself. The Great Spirit is more powerful than The Fire Spirit and hence makes The First Hummingbird emerge from the volcano's flames.
What action did Alexander The Great perform which indicates he is trustful?
He drank the medicine prepared by his doctor despite the risk that it might be poison.
What are the components of a conclusion paragraph?
- Restate the thesis that was defended in the essay
- Summarize main ideas (restate topic sentences) that supported the thesis
- Call to action
How does the central theme of Ellis Island relate to the world today?
Immigrants continue migrating to America, which creates a burden on current U.S Citizens.
Why did the doctor turn deadly pale after reading the letter?
Multiple possible answers:
1. He did try to poison Alexander but someone interfered, and now feared the consequences.
2. He did not try to poison Alexander but feared that if the medicine doesn't work, he will face consequences anyway.
3. He feared potential future hostility from The Persian King.
What is the structure of a persuasive essay with 2 main supporting ideas for the thesis?
1. Intro Paragraph: Hook the reader and state thesis.
2. Body Paragraph 1: Topic sentence (first main idea supporting thesis) and reasons that support the topic sentence.
3. Body Paragraph 2: Topic sentence (second main idea supporting thesis) and reasons that support the topic sentence.
4. Conclusion: Restate thesis, 2 main ideas for supporting the thesis, and a call to action.