Abuela Invents the Zero

"Respect your elders!" What does this phrase mean?​

​Abuela Invents the Zero

In your opinion what merits respect?

Poll

Respect is

• Freely given to everyone

• Earned by time and hardwork

• Given to because of fear

• You have to give it to get it

​Spanish	​English
​la familia	​the family
​un cero	​ZERO
​entiendes	​you understand
Abuela	grandmother

​Captain Cousteau was a famous diver. He was a pioneer in deep sea diving.

Multiple Choice

What point of view is the story told from?

• 1st person

• 2nd person

• 3rd person limited

• 3rd person omniscient

The first-person point of view in the story helps the reader understand-

Multiple Choice

The first sentence of the story is a simile.

You made me feel like a zero, like a nothing,” she says in Spanish, un cero, nada.

What is the purpose does this achieve?

• To introduce a new character in the story
• To create a vivid comparison and emphasize the feeling of being worthless or insignificant.
• To provide historical context for the setting
• To highlight the protagonist's physical appearance

Multiple Choice

Paragraph 2 introduces

• A summary of the previous paragraph
• A flashback to what caused paragraph 1

• Introduction of a new topic or idea
• A foreshadowing of what will happen

Multiple Choice

 Right up to the time when we’re supposed to pick up the old lady at the airport, my mother is telling me stories about how hard times were for la familia on la isla, and how la abuela worked night and day to support them after their father died of a heart attack. I’d die of a heart attack too if I had a troop like that to support.

• Connie is feeling trapped and suffocated
• Connie is feeling confident and empowered
• Connie is feeling unimpressed and uninterested

• Connie is feeling angry and guilty

The way Connie talks about Abuela reveals to the reader that...

Multiple Choice

 “I understand. Ten o’clock. I’m out of here.” I pry his fingers off the key ring. He knows that I’m late, so he makes it just a little difficult. Then he laughs. I run out of our apartment before he changes his mind. I have no idea what I’m getting myself into.

The last sentence of paragraph 10 creates

• an atmosphere of calm and relaxation
• a sense of humor and fun

• a sense of boredom

• a feeling of suspense and anticipation

Multiple Choice

She’s more Catholic than the Pope.

What is the most likely reason the writer uses a hyperbole when describing Abuela?

• To emphasize the extreme level of devotion and commitment Abuela has to her Catholic faith.
• To show that Abuela's devotion to her Catholic faith is average and not extreme.
• To highlight Abuela's indifference towards her Catholic faith.
• To downplay the level of devotion and commitment Abuela has to her Catholic faith.

What else in paragraph 4 supports the idea that Abuela is very devoted to her faith?

Multiple Choice

The sight of her little head with a bun on top of it sticking out of that huge coat makes me want to run back into my room and get under the covers.

This sentence from paragraph 11 reveals

• The speaker's feeling of joy and excitement at the sight of the old woman in a large coat.

• The speaker's feeling of indifference towards the sight of the old woman in a large coat.

• The speaker's feeling of anger and annoyance at the sight of the old woman in a large coat.

• The speaker's feeling of being ashamed or embarrassed by the sight of the old woman in a large coat.

Re-read paragraph 12.
This paragraph is loaded with figurative language.

What different types of figurative language can you find?

Why did the author use so much?

What is the author's specific PURPOSE?