Interpretive Questions
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, using quotes as support.
1.) Why does Melinda cooperate with her mother’s plan to get her father to buy the television?
She goes along with the plan because it would bring Melinda near her dad, which means that they will be able to be around each other.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
She feels like this is a goal because she is the only one taking care of the child. She feels like no one is helping her, she is the one taking care of Melinda and the house.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
She doesn't want to ruin their relationship by demanding something. It is already uncomfortable, she does not want to make it worse. She might be coaching to get the dad on their side. Maybe it was to get back at the dad. The mom is using Melinda to get what she wants.
4.) Why does Melinda think for a “wild moment” of asking for a candy bar, but then tell her father she is saving for the television? (p. 102)
Even though she knows that she wants the candy bar, she does not want to ruin their relationship. Even though she hangs out with dad, she still has to listen and return to mom.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
She is disappointed that she did not get the television. She was being weird around her dad. She is able to be with the family because she knows them.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
He is kind of a father figure. He is the only one that does not want anything from her. Her mom wants a television and her dad wants to look good. Jerry does not want anything and can adopt her.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
Her mom is no longer going to give attention. They are not invested in her, they have given up on her. They are invested in each other.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
She knows that he is not her real father for her. She feels that there is no need to go with her if the event is for daughters and fathers. She is starting to accept that her real father does not love her and that Jerry cannot replace being her father.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
She knows better than to talk back to them. Maybe she is just ignoring her mom. She could also just make her yell and let it go because if she talks back, it'll be bad for her.
10.) At the end of the story, why does Melinda skate with Jerry even though she thinks of him as “just another man in the world, who had nothing to do with me”? (p. 104)
She has no one else to go to. He is the only one showing affection towards her. Her mother and father don't care.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (P.92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): motherly
Synonym: parental
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My mother was maternal by protecting me and making sure I had my things.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (P.95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): luxury
Synonym: comfort
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was living a luxurious life in the fancy hotel
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (P.97)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): attractive
Synonym: flashy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The new jacket that the girl was wearing was glamorous when I glanced at her.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (P.98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): quick flash of light
Synonym: gleam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The new sunglasses glinted in the summer sun.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "He approximated." (P.100)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): near
Synonym: close
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): During the trip, my dad approximated that we would arrive in about an hour.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Melinda’s mother does or says something that is helpful to Melinda or Hurtful to Melinda. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does Melinda cooperate with her mother’s plan to get her father to buy the television?
She goes along with the plan because it would bring Melinda near her dad, which means that they will be able to be around each other.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
She feels like this is a goal because she is the only one taking care of the child. She feels like no one is helping her, she is the one taking care of Melinda and the house.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
She doesn't want to ruin their relationship by demanding something. It is already uncomfortable, she does not want to make it worse. She might be coaching to get the dad on their side. Maybe it was to get back at the dad. The mom is using Melinda to get what she wants.
4.) Why does Melinda think for a “wild moment” of asking for a candy bar, but then tell her father she is saving for the television? (p. 102)
Even though she knows that she wants the candy bar, she does not want to ruin their relationship. Even though she hangs out with dad, she still has to listen and return to mom.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
She is disappointed that she did not get the television. She was being weird around her dad. She is able to be with the family because she knows them.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
He is kind of a father figure. He is the only one that does not want anything from her. Her mom wants a television and her dad wants to look good. Jerry does not want anything and can adopt her.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
Her mom is no longer going to give attention. They are not invested in her, they have given up on her. They are invested in each other.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
She knows that he is not her real father for her. She feels that there is no need to go with her if the event is for daughters and fathers. She is starting to accept that her real father does not love her and that Jerry cannot replace being her father.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
She knows better than to talk back to them. Maybe she is just ignoring her mom. She could also just make her yell and let it go because if she talks back, it'll be bad for her.
10.) At the end of the story, why does Melinda skate with Jerry even though she thinks of him as “just another man in the world, who had nothing to do with me”? (p. 104)
She has no one else to go to. He is the only one showing affection towards her. Her mother and father don't care.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (P.92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): motherly
Synonym: parental
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My mother was maternal by protecting me and making sure I had my things.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (P.95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): luxury
Synonym: comfort
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was living a luxurious life in the fancy hotel
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (P.97)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): attractive
Synonym: flashy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The new jacket that the girl was wearing was glamorous when I glanced at her.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (P.98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): quick flash of light
Synonym: gleam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The new sunglasses glinted in the summer sun.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "He approximated." (P.100)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): near
Synonym: close
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): During the trip, my dad approximated that we would arrive in about an hour.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Melinda’s mother does or says something that is helpful to Melinda or Hurtful to Melinda. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.