"The Winter Hibiscus" by Minfong Ho

In “The Winter Hibiscus,” why does Saeng decide to help her mother in the garden instead of leaving early for the driving test as she had intended?

• The bitter melon being harvested by her mother is one of Saeng's favorite foods.

• She knows that her mother cannot get the necessary work done without her help.

• The way that her mother asks for her help appeals to Saeng's sense of family and duty.

• She realizes that being early for the test would mean she'd have to stand around and wait.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

How is Saeng’s experience with the driving test in “The Winter Hibiscus” different from her experiences with other tests?

• She doesn't pass this test.

• This test is difficult for her.

• This test has importance for her.

• She hasn't prepared to take this test.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.7.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.7

In “The Winter Hibiscus,” what is most appealing to Saeng about the hibiscus plant that she finds in the greenhouse?

• its color

• its smell

• its hardiness

• its familiarity

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

According to “The Winter Hibiscus,” what is the main way in which Saeng sees David and the tall, blond girl as different from her?

• They are short, and she is not.

• They are quiet, and she is talkative.

• They behave well, and she does not.

• They fit in easily, and she is an outsider.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

In “The Winter Hibiscus,” Saeng bursts into tears when she visits the greenhouse. Which reason best explains her reaction?

• She sees many familiar tropical plants.

• She can't bear the sight of the plants' beauty.

• She is overpowered by memories that the plants bring to mind.

• She is dismayed to see plants in pots instead of growing naturally.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Read the following sentence from "The Winter Hibiscus".

Instead, Saeng had simply taken the carefully pressed leaves out and left them in a pile in her room, where they moldered, turned smelly, and were eventually tossed out.

In this sentence, what is the MOST LIKELY meaning of moldered?

• decayed

• remained

• slowly dried

• created beauty

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does the context suggest is MOST LIKELY the meaning of evolved in this sentence?

In the four years since they had migrated to America, they had evolved a kind of bilingual dialogue, where her parents would continue to address her brothers and her in Laotian, and they would reply in English, with each side sometimes slipping into the other's language to convey certain key words that seemed impossible to translate.

• gradually developed

• been amused by

• taught to others

• suddenly remembered

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does the context suggest is MOST LIKELY the meaning of scrutinized in this excerpt from "The WInter Hibiscus"?

And why, among all these foreign maples and oak leaves, did it seem so very familiar? She scrutinized the bush, but it was no help: If there had been any flowers on it they had already fallen off.

• noticed

• carefully examined

• quickly observed

• memorized

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

Which word or phrase from the sentence is the context clue that MOST CLEARLY supports the fact that moldered means decayed?

Instead, Saeng had simply taken the carefully pressed leaves out and left them in a pile in her room, where they moldered, turned smelly, and were eventually tossed out.

• carefully pressed leaves

• were eventually tossed out

• turned smelly

• in a pile

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

Which excerpt from "The Winter Hibiscus" BEST supports the idea that Saeng sees David and the tall blond girl as fitting in easily - whereas she is an outsider?

• "Would you ... I mean, if you'd like, I could buy...."

• This girl could have bee David's twin sister, and Saeng would still have felt this stab of pain, this recognition that They Belonged, and she didn't.

• For a moment they sat there laughing and talking in the car. So carefree, so casual - so American.

• Another car drove slowly past her, and she caught a glimpse of her reflection on its window. Her arms were hanging limply by her sides, and she looked short and frumpy.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.7.2