Zoo

Zoo

Reading: Make Inferences by Reading Between the Lines and Asking Questions

An inference is an intelligent guess, based on what the text tells you, about things not stated directly in the text. Suppose a story opens with crowds forming to wait for the arrival of an interplanetary zoo. You can infer from those details that the zoo will soon arrive.

Reading: Make Inferences by Reading Between the Lines and Asking Questions

One way to make inferences is to read between the lines by asking questions, such as, “Why does the writer include these details?” and “Why does the writer leave out certain information?” In the opening sentence of “Zoo,” for example, we learn that “the children were always good during the month of August.” The next thing we learn is that the Interplanetary Zoo comes to Chicago every year around August 23. Why does the writer open his story with these details? What conclusion can be drawn about why the children are always good in August? From these details you can infer that the children are good in August because they want their parents to take them to the interplanetary zoo.

Open Ended

In the following passage, what inference can you draw from the detail that the people are clutching dollars?

Before daybreak the crowds would form, long lines of children and adults both, each one clutching his or her dollar and waiting with wonderment to see what race of strange creatures the Professor had brought this year.

Open Ended

In the following passage, what inference can you draw about the Professor from the description of his clothing?

Soon the good Professor himself made an appearance, wearing his many-colored rainbow cape and top hat.

Open Ended

In the following passage, what inference can you draw about the horse spiders from the way they file out of their cages, listen to Hugo’s parting words, and then scurry away?

The odd horse-spider creatures filed quickly out of their cages. Professor Hugo was there to say a few parting words, and then they scurried away in a hundred different directions, seeking their homes among the rocks.

Open Ended

In the following passage, what inference can you draw from the she-creature’s reaction to her mate and offspring’s arrival?

In one house, the she-creature was happy to see the return of her mate and offspring. She babbled a greeting in the strange tongue and hurried to embrace them.

Literary Analysis: Theme

A story’s theme is its central idea, message, or insight into life. Occasionally, the author states the theme directly. More often, however, the theme is implied.

A theme is not the same as the subject of a work. For example, if the subject, or topic, of a story is similarities and differences, the theme will be a message about that subject, such as “differences between groups of people can keep people from seeing the ways in which they are similar.”

Open Ended

What is the setting?

Open Ended

What do the main characters say? Summarize the words spoken by Hugo, one of the people from Earth, the female horse spider, the male horse spider, and the little one.

Open Ended

How do the characters act? Describe the actions of the people in Chicago and the actions of the horse-spider creatures.

Open Ended

What object or objects seem important?

Open Ended

What is the subject, or topic, of “Zoo”?

Open Ended

Based on these details, what would you say is the theme of “Zoo”?

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” how often does Professor Hugo bring his zoo to Chicago?

• once every six hours

• once every month

• once every six months

• once every year

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” Professor Hugo has brought three-legged creatures from Venus; tall,

thin men from Mars; and horse spiders from a distant planet. How might you

describe Professor Hugo’s zoo?

• It displays the kinds of creatures found in any zoo.

• It displays a wide selection of interesting creatures.

• It displays strange creatures from outer space.

• It displays snakes, crocodiles, and other reptiles.

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” how much do the people of Earth pay to see the interplanetary zoo?

• fifty cents

• one dollar

• two dollars

• five dollars

Multiple Choice

Why do ten thousand people go to see Professor Hugo’s zoo while it is in

Chicago?

• They have nothing better to do at that time of year.

• They are fascinated by the creatures on display.

• They want to win a chance to touch the zoo animals.

• They have been told by their friends how good the zoo is.

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” Professor Hugo urges visitors to call their friends in other cities and

tell them how much they enjoyed his zoo. What inference can you draw from

this detail?

• He wants to make as many people happy as he can.

• He wants people in different cities to know each other better.

• He wants to promote the use of long-distance telephone service.

• He wants people to encourage their friends to see his show.

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” how does the she-creature from Kaan react when her mate and offspring come home?

• She scolds them for having stayed away so long.

• She expresses concern because they had gone so far.

• She babbles happily and rushes to hug them.

• She feeds them dinner and prepares their beds.

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” what does the little horse spider especially enjoy on its visit around the

universe?

• the place called Earth

• the men from Mars

• the creatures from Venus

• the creatures from Kaan

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” what do the horse spiders find strange about the people on Earth?

• Some of them eat cooked meat.

• Some of them live in apartments.

• They speak many different languages.

• They wear clothes and walk on two legs.

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” the he-creature says that the zoo is “well worth the nineteen commocs

it costs.” What inference can you draw from this statement?

• The he-creature does not want to travel with Professor Hugo’s zoo again.

• The he-creature wants his wife to travel with the zoo the next time he goes.

• The creatures in the zoo are paying Professor Hugo to travel with the zoo.

• Professor Hugo is extremely popular on all the planets he visits.

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” Edward Hoch writes that the people of Earth are fascinated by the

creatures from Kaan and the creatures from Kaan are fascinated by the people

from Earth. What does this tell about the theme of the story?

• It has to do with people’s differences and similarities.

• It has to do with the strangeness of space creatures.

• It has to do with everyone’s love of creatures in zoos.

• It has to do with the interplanetary zoos of the future.

Multiple Choice

In “Zoo,” Hoch describes different creatures reacting to one another. What is he

trying to show about people?

• They are eager to learn from those who are different from them.

• They want to get to know those who are different from them.

• They automatically fear those who are different from them.

• They are shy when they meet those who are different from them.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences uses interplanetary correctly?

• The interplanetary aircraft traveled from place to place on Earth.

• The interplanetary flight from New York to London was cancelled.

• The voyage from Earth to the moon was an interplanetary mission.

• The interplanetary spaceship traveled from Earth to Mars.

Multiple Choice

What does a visitor to the zoo feel if he or she is in awe of the horse spiders?

• fear and wonder

• hostility and tenderness

• surprise and anger

• admiration and hatred