Reading Terms
What is imagery?
A very clear/vivid description that appeals to one of the senses.
Why is January 1st an important day for Haitians?
January 1st is the celebration of Haitian independence.
How does Yang feel about her family's new house in the very beginning?
She is excited and proud of it.
Line 26-33: "Are you sure this only $36,500?...It looks like at least 70,000 to me...It felt like a miracle."
DOUBLE POINTS!!
What kind of adjectives are "what," "which," and "whose"?
interrogative adjectives
DOUBLE POINTS!!
In Bonne Annee, why does the author's family live in New York?
Haiti was under the power of an evil dictator (Papa Doc) and were forced to flee to avoid persecution.
DOUBLE POINTS!!
What is "repetition"?
the use of the same word/group of words to emphasize a particular idea
The author's father says they will move back to Haiti if Papa Doc leaves his role as President for Life. Why would the author not want to move back to Haiti?
Because the author grew up in New York so New York is all he knows. Haiti would be brand new and unfamiliar to him.
What feeling does the repetition of "someday" create?
That the Yang family has hope for a better future.
What are the four demonstrative adjectives?
this, that, those, these
Do you use "few," "fewer," and "fewest" before count nouns or noncount nouns?
count nouns
What is the "central idea"?
the main point/message of a text
When everyone is gathered in the beginning of the story, why is Kreyol the language that predominates in the conversations the author overhears?
The people there are Haitian immigrants and the adults are speaking Kreyol because it's the main language they spoke while living in Haiti.
Why does Yang's family not want to be repatriated (return) to Laos?
The conditions in Laos are still dangerous for Hmong people. People who returned to Laos "went missing," and children were killed.
Name the direct object and object complement in the following sentence.
The disaster left people fearful.
direct object = people
object complement = fearful
Why does Yang think her parents are better examples of love than Romeo and Juliet?
Because her parents stuck together through many hardships.
What is an allusion in literature?
An indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, or literary work.
An allusion calls something to your mind without mentioning it explicitly.
How does Haiti's brief lead over Italy in the World Cup soccer game affect him?
He realizes that Haiti's brief success meant more to him than any victory by his favorite team, the Mets (eeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww)
He feels proud to be from Haiti.
Why does Yang compare herself to a pot of boiling water halfway through the story?
To signify a change in her feelings towards her situation. She realizes that she feels overwhelmed by everything in her life and frustrated that she can't change her situation. She is ready for it to change.
Name all of the descriptive adjectives in the following sentence.
His eyes were a pale blue, vivid and clear like those of a sled dog.
pale, blue, vivid, clear, those, sled
What is the positive, comparative, and superlative form of the word "dead"?
"dead" cannot be compared!!
An "author's purpose" is his or her reason for writing. What are the four reasons for writing?
to inform, to entertain, to persuade, to express feelings
What is the central idea of Bonne Annee?
The author struggles to feel a connection to Haiti and the United States. By the end, Haiti becomes much more important to him and he is proud to be Haitian.
How does the author's recovery from her illness change her?
She accepts her Hmong and American identities.
Name the adjective clause, the noun being modified, and if it is restrictive or nonrestrictive.
Let's go to a cafe where they have Wi-Fi.
"where they have Wi-Fi"
modifying "cafe"
restrictive
What does "nominal" mean?
small or insignificant