Esperanza Rising: Las Guayabas; Los Melones

1

Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.
Match each word in the 1st column to its antonym in the 2nd column.

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
stagnant		robust
monotonous		aristocrats
frail		changing
peasants		patient
barren		unfamiliar
sparse		fertile
irritable		fresh
intimate		plentiful

Use the words in the 1st column to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

1

To avoid gossip, Jodi shared her secrets only with her most ____________________
friends.

1

Getting caught in traffic often makes people ____________________.

1

The Mexican ____________________ worked long hours in the fields yet received very
low wages.

1

The grass on the front lawn became ____________________ because it was not given
sufficient water and fertilizer.

1

After being hospitalized for a month with a severe illness, the patient appeared
____________________.

1

The moon is a(n) ____________________ place where no trees, grass, or flowers can be
found.

1

It is not safe to drink the water from a(n) ____________________ pool.

1

The ____________________ voice of the speaker caused many people in the audience to
fall asleep.

Answer the following questions using at least one complete sentence.

1

Why do Mama, Esperanza, and Hortensia have to leave at night hidden in a wagon?

1

During the wagon ride, why does Hortensia recall the story of a train journey that
Esperanza made with Miguel and Papa?

1

Why does Mama make a yarn doll for the little girl on the train?

1

How did Papa’s death change Miguel’s life?

1

Why does Esperanza’s mother say, “Now we are peasants, too.”

1

How does Mama convince the officials to let her cross the border?

1

Why does Miguel apologize to Esperanza for her cousin Isabel’s comments?

1

How will Esperanza and her mother earn their living in California?

1

Why does Esperanza dislike Marta?

1

According to Isabel why do the farm workers of different nationalities live in
separate camps?

1

How do you think Esperanza and her mother will be able to endure their new life?

Literary Elements:
Use the definitions to answer the questions using at least one complete sentence.

1

Symbolism—What was the symbolic importance of Esperanza’s inability to hear the
earth’s “heartbeat” once she arrived in California?

1

Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?

As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulled
away from each other, like a curtain opening on a stage, revealing
the San Joaquin Valley beyond.

1

Esperanza Rising: Las Guayabas; Los Melones

Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Match each word in the 1st column to its antonym in the 2nd column.

To avoid gossip, Jodi shared her secrets only with her most ____________________friends.

Getting caught in traffic often makes people ____________________.

The Mexican ____________________ worked long hours in the fields yet received verylow wages.

The grass on the front lawn became ____________________ because it was not givensufficient water and fertilizer.

After being hospitalized for a month with a severe illness, the patient appeared____________________.

The moon is a(n) ____________________ place where no trees, grass, or flowers can befound.

It is not safe to drink the water from a(n) ____________________ pool.

The ____________________ voice of the speaker caused many people in the audience tofall asleep.

Why do Mama, Esperanza, and Hortensia have to leave at night hidden in a wagon?

During the wagon ride, why does Hortensia recall the story of a train journey thatEsperanza made with Miguel and Papa?

Why does Mama make a yarn doll for the little girl on the train?

How did Papa’s death change Miguel’s life?

Why does Esperanza’s mother say, “Now we are peasants, too.”

How does Mama convince the officials to let her cross the border?

Why does Miguel apologize to Esperanza for her cousin Isabel’s comments?

How will Esperanza and her mother earn their living in California?

Why does Esperanza dislike Marta?

According to Isabel why do the farm workers of different nationalities live inseparate camps?

How do you think Esperanza and her mother will be able to endure their new life?

Symbolism—What was the symbolic importance of Esperanza’s inability to hear theearth’s “heartbeat” once she arrived in California?

Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulledaway from each other, like a curtain opening on a stage, revealingthe San Joaquin Valley beyond.

Use the example for Simile in the previous question.What visual image does this create?

Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Match each word in the 1st column to its antonym in the 2nd column.

To avoid gossip, Jodi shared her secrets only with her most ____________________friends.

Getting caught in traffic often makes people ____________________.

The Mexican ____________________ worked long hours in the fields yet received verylow wages.

The grass on the front lawn became ____________________ because it was not givensufficient water and fertilizer.

After being hospitalized for a month with a severe illness, the patient appeared____________________.

The moon is a(n) ____________________ place where no trees, grass, or flowers can befound.

It is not safe to drink the water from a(n) ____________________ pool.

The ____________________ voice of the speaker caused many people in the audience tofall asleep.

Why do Mama, Esperanza, and Hortensia have to leave at night hidden in a wagon?

During the wagon ride, why does Hortensia recall the story of a train journey thatEsperanza made with Miguel and Papa?

Why does Mama make a yarn doll for the little girl on the train?

How did Papa’s death change Miguel’s life?

Why does Esperanza’s mother say, “Now we are peasants, too.”

How does Mama convince the officials to let her cross the border?

Why does Miguel apologize to Esperanza for her cousin Isabel’s comments?

How will Esperanza and her mother earn their living in California?

Why does Esperanza dislike Marta?

According to Isabel why do the farm workers of different nationalities live inseparate camps?

How do you think Esperanza and her mother will be able to endure their new life?

Symbolism—What was the symbolic importance of Esperanza’s inability to hear theearth’s “heartbeat” once she arrived in California?

Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulledaway from each other, like a curtain opening on a stage, revealingthe San Joaquin Valley beyond.

Use the example for Simile in the previous question.What visual image does this create?

Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.
Match each word in the 1st column to its antonym in the 2nd column.

To avoid gossip, Jodi shared her secrets only with her most ____________________
friends.

The Mexican ____________________ worked long hours in the fields yet received very
low wages.

The grass on the front lawn became ____________________ because it was not given
sufficient water and fertilizer.

After being hospitalized for a month with a severe illness, the patient appeared
____________________.

The moon is a(n) ____________________ place where no trees, grass, or flowers can be
found.

The ____________________ voice of the speaker caused many people in the audience to
fall asleep.

During the wagon ride, why does Hortensia recall the story of a train journey that
Esperanza made with Miguel and Papa?

According to Isabel why do the farm workers of different nationalities live in
separate camps?

Symbolism—What was the symbolic importance of Esperanza’s inability to hear the
earth’s “heartbeat” once she arrived in California?

Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?

As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulled
away from each other, like a curtain opening on a stage, revealing
the San Joaquin Valley beyond.

Use the example for Simile in the previous question.

What visual image does this create?

Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.
Match each word in the 1st column to its antonym in the 2nd column.

To avoid gossip, Jodi shared her secrets only with her most ____________________
friends.

The Mexican ____________________ worked long hours in the fields yet received very
low wages.

The grass on the front lawn became ____________________ because it was not given
sufficient water and fertilizer.

After being hospitalized for a month with a severe illness, the patient appeared
____________________.

The moon is a(n) ____________________ place where no trees, grass, or flowers can be
found.

The ____________________ voice of the speaker caused many people in the audience to
fall asleep.

During the wagon ride, why does Hortensia recall the story of a train journey that
Esperanza made with Miguel and Papa?

According to Isabel why do the farm workers of different nationalities live in
separate camps?

Symbolism—What was the symbolic importance of Esperanza’s inability to hear the
earth’s “heartbeat” once she arrived in California?

Simile—What is being compared in the following simile?

As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulled
away from each other, like a curtain opening on a stage, revealing
the San Joaquin Valley beyond.

Use the example for Simile in the previous question.

What visual image does this create?