Sonia Sotomayor

Which statement expresses a main idea of Who Is Sonia Sotomayor?

• The only way to change an unfair system is through nonviolent protest.

• The most important jobs often pay people the least amount of money.

• Even the most intelligent people can sometimes make foolish mistakes.

• When facing a challenge or a new experience, it's wise to ask for help.

Which detail from Who Is Sonia Sotomayor? supports the idea that, when facing a challenge or a new experience, it's wise to ask for help?

• After she complained to Yale about the head of a law firm who criticized Affirmative Action, Sonia got a job as an assistant district attorney.

• Once her family moved to a safer neighborhood in the Bronx, Sonia began to attend Cardinal Spellman High School.

• After she asked one of the smartest girls at Cardinal Spellman High School for some study tips, Sonia's grades improved.

• Once she took a job at the private firm of Pavia & Harcourt, Sonia made a lot more money and traveled to other countries.

Which line from Who Is Sonia Sotomayor? supports the idea that, no matter how busy she was, Sonia tried to enjoy life?

• "She danced the salsa an sang in front of the whole crowd."

• "She wrote an article for the Yale Law Journal—and it was printed!"

• "Sonia thought she was keeping it a secret—her dream of becoming a judge."

• "But even though she liked being a DA, the job was taking a toll on her."

After reading this passage, why can you infer that making a lot of money was not the most important thing to Sonia when she graduated from law school?

• She was more focused on defending people accused of crimes than she was on taking home a big paycheck.

• She turned down an offer to work at a fancy private law firm in favor of working in the DA's office.

• She took the job as an assistant district attorney even though it did not pay as well as other jobs.

• She knew that her mother would be proud of her as long as she earned enough to survive.

In Chapter 6 of Who Is Sonia Sotomayor? Megan Stine describes Sonia's work for a private law firm called Pavia & Harcourt. Stine writes, "In 1988, the lawyers who owned Pavia & Harcourt took a vote. They decided to make Sonia a partner in the law firm." Which statement about these lines is true?

• These lines state a fact, and readers could verify it by checking the records of Pavia & Harcourt from 1988.

• These lines express an opinion, and readers could find support for it by seeking out details about Sonia's work at Pavia & Harcourt.

• These lines express an opinion, and readers could find support for it in other documents about the history of Pavia & Harcourt.

• These lines state a fact, and readers could verify it by learning about the reasons that lawyers are promoted.

Based on the time lines on pages 106 and 107 of Who Is Sonia Sotomayor? when was Sonia sworn in as a justice on the Supreme Court?

• eleven years after Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court

• two years after she ruled to end the Major League Baseball strike

• one year after Barack Obama was elected the first African American person to be president of the United States

• five years after she was named a U.S. district court judge by President George H.W. Bush

Which line from Who Is Sonia Sotomayor? supports the idea that being approved for an appointment to the Supreme Court would be quite difficult?

• "As for Sonia, she worried about how being on the Supreme Court could change her life."

• "Sonia was on the 'short list' of people President Obama was considering."

• "She wanted minority children to know that they were just like her."

• "Senators are very careful about voting for Supreme Court justices."

Which line from Who Is Sonia Sotomayor? expresses an opinion?

• "In 1979, Sonia joined the New York City DA's office."

• "Princeton gave Sonia a full scholarship."

• "The Fendi family who owned the business invited her to Rome."

• "She was kind and polite to everyone."

Sonia Sotomayor was appointed to the Supreme Court by

• President Clinton

• President Bush

• President Obama

What are reasons why Sonia was successful in becoming a Justice?

• She loved pork chops and got diabetes.

• She studied hard, was accepted into Princeton, read a lot, was always prepared for court, Obama picked her.

• She knew her way around the courthouse and was friends with all the other judges.

• She loved to play bingo, read Nancy Drew books, and watch Perry Mason.