The Jumping Tree

Reread lines 53-58. What is the meaning of "sidled?"

• Leaned over

• Gigantic

• Move sideways

• Waited

PART A: How does the narrator feel towards his cousins?

• They don't get along.

• They have fun together and he enjoys their time hanging out.

• He hangs out with them when he has to, but doesn't enjoy it.

• They like each other and the age difference doesn't matter to them.

PART B: What piece of evidence supports your answer to PART A?

• “My cousin Jorge, who was a full two years older, was visiting from Mier across the border.”

• “...but I hadn’t done much to get the older kids’ respect this summer.”

• “...he’d always make certain I had a good time.”

• “Since he was older, I didn’t want to do things that were for kids.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

Reread lines 49-67. How does the narrator choosing to jump move the plot forward?

• He feels he has to jump so he can impress his cousins.

• He thinks that if he jumps, he'll have the confidence to survive the school year.

• He thinks that when he jumps, he'll never have to compete in another competition again.

• His jump will impress the girls at school.

PART A: Reread lines 71-115. What is the narrator's point of view while jumping?

• He looks down and sees the ground.

• He's confident at first, but then gets scared of the impact.

• He jumps and lands perfectly and is proud.

• He's thinking of all the reasons he shouldn't have jumped.

PART B: What piece of text evidence supports your answer to PART A?

• “I saw myself from below somehow.”

• “It was my destiny to fly...but my chubby little soon-to-be-sixth-grade fingers failed me.”

• “...and stuck the landing. A perfect 10, even from the Russian judge.”

• “And so, like Superman confronted by kryptonite, I fell.”

What is the most important theme of this story?

• Don't give into peer pressure.

• Take risks because there is always a pay off.

• Stay true to yourself.

• Face your fears.

Read lines 110-end. What TWO ways does the author mean by “It was just the break I needed.”

• He felt relieved.

• He broke his arm.

• He got to get out of school assignments.

• He knew he could use the broken arm to impress new classmates.

• It felt good to break his first bone.