Book of Unknown Americans

What does the narrator imply about the concept of home?

• Home is always the same

• One home isn’t every home

• Home is where the heart is

• Home is a physical place

Which statement best describes the narrator’s internal conflict in the story?

• The narrator is pressured by his family about feeling Panamanian and by his peers about not being American enough.

• The narrator implies feeling confused when his family appears proud to become American citizens at the courthouse.

• The narrator discusses feeling more American than Panamanian, yet his father gets angry when accused of being an American.

• The narrator states that he cannot remember anything about living in Panama like his brother who reminisces about his memories.

Which sentence from the selection best represents its main message?

• I was less than a year old when my parents brought my brother and me to the United States. (paragraph 1)

• I spent a lot of time trying to find it in me, but usually I couldn’t. I felt more American than anything, but even that was up for debate. . . . (paragraph 3)

• I let her, too, even though every time she did, instead of comforting me, it only made me more scared. (paragraph 24)

• That year around the holidays we were all miserable. Holidays were always bad. . . . (paragraph 26)

Which sentence from paragraphs 1 to 5 foreshadows that the family will not return to Panamá?

• They needed to believe they’d done the right thing and that it made sense.

• But while they waited for that day, they started making friends.

• Enrique was in school, and I started, too.

• And before they knew it, we had a life here.

How does the book portray the immigrant experience in terms of employment?

• Immigrants easily find high-paying jobs

• Immigrants are always unemployed

• Immigrants often take jobs that are below their qualifications

• Immigrants do not seek employment

What form of social discrimination do characters in the book face?

• Discrimination based on their educational background

• Discrimination based on their wealth

• Discrimination based on their country of origin

• Discrimination based on their age

Which aspect of family dynamics is highlighted in the immigrant families of the book?

• The ease of adjusting to a new country

• The struggle to maintain traditional values

• The lack of challenges faced by second-generation immigrants

• The absence of conflict within immigrant families

How are language barriers depicted as affecting the characters' lives?

• They have no impact on the characters' lives

• They make it easier for characters to assimilate

• They create misunderstandings and isolation

• They are quickly overcome without effort

How does paragraph 10 advance the plot?

• It foreshadows the terrorist attack of September 11.

• It demonstrates how hard life is for people in Panamá.

• It emphasizes the tension between the old and new cultures.

• It introduces the conflict between the narrator’s mother and father.

Which statement best describes the narrator's internal conflict in the story?

• The narrator experiences pressure by his family to feel more Panamanian and by his peers for not being American enough.

• The narrator cannot understand why his family appears proud to become American citizens at the courthouse, yet they want to feel more Panamanian.

• The narrator experiences feeling more American than Panamanian, yet his father gets angry when accused of being an American.

• The narrator cannot remember anything about living in Panamá like his brother who enjoys talking about his memories.