Comprehension
What is "La Rinconada"?
It is a gold mining town at an elevation of 18,000 feet in the Peruvian Andes.
The writer presents factual information but also develops a _____—his or her own perspective or position on the topic.
thesis
Identify words and phrases in paragraphs 14-15 that seem especially powerful.
"broad swaths of arid plain"
"government poohbahs"
"putrid stench"
What basic facilities and services does "La Rinconada" lack?
The town has no sanitation system, no water, and no paved roads.
What is Arana's thesis in this article?
What does Arana's diction suggest about her attitude toward her subject?
She admires it and feels bad about what it's become.
How does the amount of gold supplied by current mines in La Rinconada contrast with historic tales of gold's abundance?
It contrast to past tales of abundance (when a nugget as large as a horse's head was found) gold is scarce now.
How does Arana's organizational design help develop her thesis? What is the relationship between the two?
Arana provides information about how La Rinconada once looked and what happened to in the past and contrasts with what it looks like now; she then offers her own views on how she finds beauty none the less.
Identify aspects of Arana's syntax in paragraphs 5-6 that create a sense of rhythm.
She repeats nothing and no at the beginning of her sentences.
What is Atahualpa's curse? Explain.
The curse is that no one will find more gold.
Which statement explains the connection between the thesis and organizational design of a text?
The thesis is the author’s point of view, and the organizational design is the structure the author uses to support that view.
What ideas are emphasized by Arana's rhythmic syntax in this passage?
The emphasis is on all the basic amenities most people have, which the inhabitants of La Rinconada go without.
What beauty does the author find among the "ugliness" of La Rinconada?
She finds awe and human kindness.
Read this paragraph from “In La Rinconada, Peru, Searching for Beauty in Ugliness.”
Indeed, when Pizarro conquered Cajamarca in 1532, he demanded a roomful of gold from the emperor Atahualpa; when it was produced, he chopped off the Inca’s head and established a new kind of Golden Rule. So it was that a mineral became king and a craze began.
This paragraph supports the writer’s thesis by using —
A a personal narrative to explain the origins of the Golden Rule
B a contemporary fact to emphasize gold’s timeless appeal
C a historical example to show people’s powerful desire for gold
D a description of a roomful of gold to illustrate gold’s beauty
C a historical example to show people’s powerful desire for gold
In what specific ways does Arana's diction and syntax contribute to her voice? Provide examples.
Students answers will vary.