Esperanza Rising excerpt - inferring lesson

​Esperanza Rising

By Randi Glenn

Multiple Choice

What was Esperanza's nightmare about at the beginning of the chapter?

• a) Her father returning to the ranch.

• b) The house being destroyed by a storm.

• c) A snake biting her Abuelita.

• d) An enormous bear chasing and smothering her.

Multiple Choice

Who is responsible for carrying Abuelita out of the burning house?

• a) Alfonso

• b) Papá

• c) Miguel

• d) Tío Luis

Multiple Choice

What item does Mama grab and hand to Esperanza as they prepare to flee the burning house?

• a) A heavy woolen blanket.

• b) A flashlight.

• c) A damp rag to put over her mouth and nose.

• d) A knife for protection.

Multiple Choice

What did Abuelita save from the fire, prioritizing it over everything else?

• a) Her jewelry box.

• b) The family's important documents.

• c) Her cloth bag with her crocheting.

• d) A bag of money.

Multiple Choice

What object does Esperanza grab when looking for "anything to save" from the house?

• a) Abuelita's crocheting bag.

• b) A picture of her father.

• c) Her doll.

• d) Her favorite book.

Open Ended

What questions do you have about the story so far? What information do we need to understand what is happening?

Inferring

Remember:

Inferring- taking information and applying your knowledge to it and reaching a conclusion

Example:

How does the story start?
What can we tell about Esperanza?

Text Evidence: The wind blew hard that night and the house moaned and whistled. Esperanza's sleep was filled with nightmares. An enormous bear was chasing her...

Inference: Something is going on that Esperanza is upset or worried about and there is some reason she feels like she can't breathe

Now you try:

 Text Evidence: When asked, "Abuelita, where were you?" her grandmother held up the cloth bag with her crocheting and whispered, "We must have something to do while we wait."

Open Ended

What inference can we make about Abuelita? Why?

 Text Evidence: Miguel ran out of the burning house carrying Abuelita in his arms... The back of his shirt was on fire. Alfonso tackled him, rolling him over and over on the ground until the fire was out

Open Ended

What kind of relationship do these people have? How can you tell?

Open Ended

How can you tell?

Now we are going to add more information

Multiple Choice

What does Tío Luis propose to Mama after the house burns down?

• a) That she sell him the rest of the land immediately.

• b) That she go to live with Abuelita's sister in the city.

• c) That she marry him so he can rebuild the house and restore the ranch.

• d) That she move to the servants' cabins indefinitely.

Multiple Choice

What item did Esperanza hope to find intact in the rubble, but found only black cinders?

• a) Her father's saddle.

• b) The silver locket her mother gave her.

• c) The trunk that sat at the foot of her bed.

• d) The wrought-iron chairs.

Multiple Choice

What is the final decision Mama makes regarding Tío Luis's proposal?

• a) She immediately accepts the marriage offer.

• b) She firmly refuses and tells him to leave.

• c) She tells him, "I will consider your proposal."

• d) She says she will only consider it if he leaves the servants alone.

Multiple Choice

What is Esperanza's immediate reaction after Mama tells Tío Luis she will "consider" his proposal?

• c) She yells, "Mama, no!" and tells Tío Luis, "I hate you!"

• a) She is grateful that Mama saved them.

• b) She runs away from the cabin.

• d) She thanks Alfonso and Miguel for saving Abuelita.

Now consider the questions you had at the end of the last section

Open Ended

What information did we gain that gave additional information?

Open Ended

What do you think Esperanza's mother is going to do? Why?