Elena Comprehension

Which of the following statements best describes a major theme of the poem?

• being excluded can lead to a person to feel alone and ashamed.

• children learn new languages easily while most adults struggle.

• lacking knowledge impacts a persons ability to be a good parent.

• determination and hardwork will eventually have successful results.

How do the events in the poem shape the relationship between the speaker and her children?

• the speaker feels needed by her children because they have moved to a new country.

• the speaker feels separated from her children because they no longer spend time with her.

• the speaker feels uninvolved with her children because they are in highschool and independant.

• the speaker feels excluded by her children because she no longer understands their stories and jokes

How do lines 17 - 19 contribute to the development of the poem's theme?

• The speaker owns only one english book and needs to hide it from her husband

• the speaker hides in the bathroom because she worries someone will discover her secret

• the speaker practices alone in her bathroom because she is embarrassed and wants to understand english.

• the speaker lives in a small house, and can only find privacy if she locks herself in the family's bathroom.

How do lines 8-11 show a change in the tone of the poem?

• the tone changes from desperate to hopeful

• the tone changes from connected to lonely

• the tone changes from admiring to disapproving

• the tone changes from light - hearted to mean spirited.

The speaker believes that her Spanish “isn’t good enough” (line 1) most likely because ________

• she began learning Spanish not very long ago

• her kids speak a modern style of Spanish that she is unfamiliar with

• she can no longer communicate effectively with her children

• she never received an education of her own when she was younger

What do the following lines (12–13) mainly suggests about the speaker’s husband?

I bought a book to learn English.

My husband frowned, drank more beer.

• he doesn’t care as much about learning to speak English

• he wishes the family still lived in Mexico

• he thinks she spends too much money on unnecessary items

• he already speaks English well enough

The speaker locks herself in the bathroom to practice English mainly because _____

• she wants to escape any possible distractions from her husband and their children

• she is embarrassed by her lack of English even in front of her own family

• her husband and children are very critical of her desire to learn English

• all the other rooms in their house are being used