Lace Round the Sky

1. In paragraph 4, why does the author use the figurative language phrase “the

eyes that peered out into the universe” to describe the telescopes?

• A To suggest that telescopes are used to locate and watch over distant

  objects in space

• B To indicate that telescopes are used for watching certain people

• C To show that telescopes are delicate objects that need a lot of care and

  attention

• D To explain that telescopes should be used only by professional scientists

2. Which sentence from the story best describes Catalina’s main conflict?

• F While the visitors were there, Papá could not allow her to help.

  (Paragraph 2)

• G No one believed she would be a scientist one day. (Paragraph 7)

• H Catalina balanced on the balls of her feet. (Paragraph 16)

• J Catalina’s eyes lifted to the clock drive lit by a blinking yellow light.

  (Paragraph 18)

3. What can the reader infer about Catalina and the astronomer’s relationship?

• A He didn’t like her coming into the lab at night.

• B He helped her see that being a scientist is a dangerous job.

• C He helped deepen her dream to become a scientist some day.

• D He asked her father if she could visit the lab again.

4. What is the best summary of this selection?

• F Catalina can tell that the telescope is not pointing up in the night sky.

  She sneaks into the lab to find out what is happening. While she is

  there, she flips the two switches her father has taught her to use. The

  astronomer is surprised that she is able to fix the telescope so quickly.

• G Catalina helps her father run the observatory near La Serena, Chile. It is

  located on top of two mountains. The telescopes are kept in domes

  there. Catalina loves to look at the night sky. One evening, she goes into

  the lab and an astronomer tells her that she is good at observing things.

  She noticed that the telescope was not pointing in the right direction.

• H Catalina loves the night sky. She lives near an observatory on top of two

  mountains. She spends her free time watching the stars at night. She is

  not allowed into the lab at night when workers are there. She helps the

  astronomer who falls from a platform by calling the night operator to

  come help him. An ambulance is called to take him to the hospital.

• J Catalina loves the night sky. She spends all her free time drinking in the

  clear night air. One night, she notices that the telescope is not working

  properly. It should never be pointed at the ground. Even though she is

  not allowed in the observatory while the workers are there, she goes in

  and saves the telescope and the astronomer. Her attention to detail will

  make her a good scientist.

5. The story’s third-person point of view helps the reader —

• A identify what the astronomer in the dome feels

• B appreciate why the tourists enjoy visiting the observatory

• C understand why Catalina wants to spend time at the observatory

• D relate to the relationship between Catalina and her father