"The Jacket" by Gary Soto

What is the central idea of "The Jacket" if you were to explain it in "kid friendly terms"?

• A young boy is embarrassed by his traditional Mexican family.

• A young boy gets rejected by girls because he's ugly.

• A young boy loses his father and is thrown into poverty.

• A young boy hates the only jacket his mother can afford for him.

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What is the theme, or moral lesson, of "The Jacket"? if you were to answer this question in an exam?

• Soto's portray poverty, the narrator's insecurity, and the narrator's form of self-destruction.

• Everyone has had a bad fashion day.

• Mothers should be more considerate of their children's feelings when dressing them.

• If you don't wear fancy clothes, you won't make fancy friends.

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Which of the following best supports the answer to the theme of "The Jacket"?

• "During the morning recess Frankie T., the playground terrorist, pushed me to the ground and told me to stay there until recess was over."

• "I threw it on my brother’s bed and looked at it for a long time before I slipped it on and went out to the backyard, smiling a “thank you” to my mom as I passed her in the kitchen."

• "And so I went, in my guacamole-colored jacket. So embarrassed, so hurt, I couldn’t even do my homework. I received Cs on quizzes, and forgot the state capitals and the rivers of South America, our friendly neighbor. Even the girls who had been friendly blew away like loose flowers to follow the boys in neat jackets."

• "I blame my mother for her bad taste and her cheap ways."

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All of the following are settings in "The Jacket" EXCEPT:

• An alley

• Gary's house

• A playground

• Supermarket

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What can the reader infer about Gary based on his actions in "The Jacket"?

• He gets along well with his brothers and sisters.

• He isn't confident.

• He makes enemies easily.

• He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him.

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How does Gary transform, or evolve, over the course of the text?

• He goes from being friendless and lonely to popular.

• He goes from being a loser to being stylish.

• He goes from being angry to being overjoyed.

• He goes from being selfish and self-conscious to resigned and understanding.

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How would the story be different if Gary's family wasn't poor?

• Gary wouldn't be spoiled.

• Gary's mom could've afforded the jacket he wanted.

• Gary wouldn't care what others thought of him.

• The playground terrorist would leave Gary alone.

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Why does Gary call the jacket "a green ugly brother"?

• Because he hates the jacket and he hates his brother.

• Both the jacket and his brother are ugly.

• Both the jacket and his brother are annoyances he must accept.

• The jacket is green and his brother loves the Hulk.

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What is the most LIKELY reason Gary had no friends in 6th grade?

• He purposefully isolated himself because he was ashamed of his jacket.

• No one wanted to be friends with him because they were afraid of getting ugly cooties.

• The girls thought he wasn't cute.

• They were afraid the playground terrorist would come after them, too.

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What piece of advice would you give Gary?

• You are what you wear.

• A piece of clothing does not define you.

• Always lie to your mother to make her feel better.

• Give ugly jackets to Goodwill and just be cold.

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