The Censors

After Juan writes his letter to Mariana, he becomes very worried that:

• he will not get a job as a censor if the letter is read.
• Mariana will refuse to read the letter
• something will happen to Mariana because of the letter
•  the contents of the letter will prevent him from getting promoted.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.3.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

What can you infer about the reason Mariana moved to Paris?

• She felt lonely and hoped to meet new friends.
• She was unemployed and needed a job.
• She could not get an apartment in her country.
• She wanted to escape her country’s oppressive regime.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

When the narrator says in lines 29–30 that “you’ve got to beat them to the punch” and “sabotage the machinery,” it means that Juan must

• figure out a way to intercept the letter.
• stop writing suspicious letters to friends.
• turn in coworkers who pose a threat.
• not allow colleagues to beat him up.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

After reporting a coworker, Juan thinks, “You don’t form a habit by doing something once.” He tells himself this because he feels

• angry that his friend dared to break the rules
• pleased with himself for following the rules
• guilty for doing something that goes against his character.
• satisfied that he did the right thing, even though it was painful.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.1.3

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.3.3

After Juan is promoted to Section E, the narrator says that “his noble mission blurred in his mind.” This means that Juan

• works so hard to maintain his edge that he becomes exhausted
• loses sight of the fact that he is supposed to intercept the letter
• forgets that his duty as a censor is to serve the government
• tries to turn in other workers but finds that he cannot

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.1.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.2.1

Juan is shocked at “the subtle and conniving ways employed by people to pass on subversive messages” (lines 70–71). What can you infer about the letters Juan is reading?

• They likely contain no hidden meaning at all
• They are attempts to overthrow the government
• They were written by people who are desperate
• They can be understood only by skilled censors

Tags

CCSS.RI.K.4

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RF.5.4C

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.4.1

Through much of the story, the narrator tells the reader what Juan thinks and feels. However, after explaining that Juan is swiftly promoted, the narrator says, “We don’t know if this made him happy.” This statement is an example of

• pacing
• metaphor
• hyperbole
• foreshadowing

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.1.10

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.K.5

What does subversive mean?

• having the ability to go underwater
• intending to overthrow those in power
• providing additional money or support
• attempting to speak in quiet tones

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

Negligence is

• the failure to be careful and cautious
• the ability to see through something
• being so small as to be unimportant
• being afraid to take risks

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.K.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

If someone has the quality of staidness, he or she is

• too shy to speak
• dizzy and confused
• calm and serious
• not to be trusted

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4