Approximations
by: Mona Simpson
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, using quotes as support.
1.) Why does Melinda cooperate with her mother’s plan to get her father to buy the television?
- Melinda cooperates with her mother's plan to get her father to buy the television because she wants to see her father, and she wants to obey her mother because he mother is the only person at the moment that takes care of her.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
- Melinda's mother wants to get the television from Melinda's father because she never gets anything or help from him.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
- Melinda is nervous because she does not want to ruin whatever relationship they had by demanding something immediately. Her mother, however, uses Melinda to seek revenge on her father by asking for the television.
4.) Why does Melinda think for a “wild moment” of asking for a candy bar, but then tell her father she is saving for the television? (p. 102)
- Even though Melinda thinks she will get the candy bar and wants to hang out with her father, she doesn't want to upset her mom by not saying anything about the television because she is staying with mom.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
- Melinda's mother yells at her because Melinda didn't want a real conversation with her dad, she didn't talk much, she looked down, she kept quiet, she slumped, and she acted differently in front of dad. She would act different because they have an awkward relationship and she is nervous.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
- Melinda goes to Jerry after the fight because she is comfortable with Jerry like a normal father, and Jerry is the only one that doesn't want anything from her. The mom wants a tv, the dad wants to look good, and Jerry just loves her.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
- Melinda stops skating after the ice show because she realizes that after Jerry and her mom love each other, they don't put as much attention on Melinda now.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
- Melinda decides not to go to the breakfast because she forgot about, she thinks that Jerry is not a replacement for her father, and she is still navigating her relationships to figure out who she should put her attention on.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
- Melinda stays silent because she knows that if she talks back, she will be in even more trouble, or that she knows that her mom needs to just yell things out and calm down.
10.) At the end of the story, why does Melinda skate with Jerry even though she thinks of him as “just another man in the world, who had nothing to do with me”? (p. 104)
- Jerry is the only one that is showing Melinda affection, so she skates with him, even though he is still like a stranger to her.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (p. 92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): of or relating to a mother
Synonym: Motherly, caring, protective
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): While her mom is away, her aunt gets to be the maternal figure while she is gone.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (p. 95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Of or relating to rich or costly
Synonym: richly, high, comfortable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was luxuriously sleeping inside his mansion near the fireplace.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (Page 97)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Having the qualities of being beautiful or alluring
Synonym: fascinating, amazing
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was glamorous when she sang the national anthem.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (Page 98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a quick or momentary flash of light
Synonym: flicker, flash
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The glass cup glinted because it was so shiny.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "She had already stopped telling Jerry the things she wanted because he tried to get them for her and he made mistakes. He approximated." (p. 100)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be almost correct or exact
Synonym: similar, alike
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her test results approximates to mine.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Melinda’s mother does or says something that is helpful to Melinda or Hurtful to Melinda. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does Melinda cooperate with her mother’s plan to get her father to buy the television?
- Melinda cooperates with her mother's plan to get her father to buy the television because she wants to see her father, and she wants to obey her mother because he mother is the only person at the moment that takes care of her.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
- Melinda's mother wants to get the television from Melinda's father because she never gets anything or help from him.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
- Melinda is nervous because she does not want to ruin whatever relationship they had by demanding something immediately. Her mother, however, uses Melinda to seek revenge on her father by asking for the television.
4.) Why does Melinda think for a “wild moment” of asking for a candy bar, but then tell her father she is saving for the television? (p. 102)
- Even though Melinda thinks she will get the candy bar and wants to hang out with her father, she doesn't want to upset her mom by not saying anything about the television because she is staying with mom.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
- Melinda's mother yells at her because Melinda didn't want a real conversation with her dad, she didn't talk much, she looked down, she kept quiet, she slumped, and she acted differently in front of dad. She would act different because they have an awkward relationship and she is nervous.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
- Melinda goes to Jerry after the fight because she is comfortable with Jerry like a normal father, and Jerry is the only one that doesn't want anything from her. The mom wants a tv, the dad wants to look good, and Jerry just loves her.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
- Melinda stops skating after the ice show because she realizes that after Jerry and her mom love each other, they don't put as much attention on Melinda now.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
- Melinda decides not to go to the breakfast because she forgot about, she thinks that Jerry is not a replacement for her father, and she is still navigating her relationships to figure out who she should put her attention on.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
- Melinda stays silent because she knows that if she talks back, she will be in even more trouble, or that she knows that her mom needs to just yell things out and calm down.
10.) At the end of the story, why does Melinda skate with Jerry even though she thinks of him as “just another man in the world, who had nothing to do with me”? (p. 104)
- Jerry is the only one that is showing Melinda affection, so she skates with him, even though he is still like a stranger to her.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (p. 92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): of or relating to a mother
Synonym: Motherly, caring, protective
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): While her mom is away, her aunt gets to be the maternal figure while she is gone.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (p. 95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Of or relating to rich or costly
Synonym: richly, high, comfortable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was luxuriously sleeping inside his mansion near the fireplace.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (Page 97)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Having the qualities of being beautiful or alluring
Synonym: fascinating, amazing
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was glamorous when she sang the national anthem.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (Page 98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a quick or momentary flash of light
Synonym: flicker, flash
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The glass cup glinted because it was so shiny.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "She had already stopped telling Jerry the things she wanted because he tried to get them for her and he made mistakes. He approximated." (p. 100)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be almost correct or exact
Synonym: similar, alike
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her test results approximates to mine.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Melinda’s mother does or says something that is helpful to Melinda or Hurtful to Melinda. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Helpful
- She provides financial support to Melinda - She coaches Melinda and supports Melinda of the ice skating - She allows the relationship between the father and Melinda - She doesn't bad mouth the father in front of Melinda, and lets Melinda come up with her own opinion of her father - She is encouraging Melinda to not just be a "pretty face" but also have talents and skills |
Hurtful
- She encourages lying when she told her to get the TV - She yells at Melinda and told her she was dumb and ordinary - When she falls in love with Jerry, she puts her attention on Jerry and neglects Melinda - When they are on the plane, she makes Melinda feel bad when Melinda accepts her dad's gift - She doesn't listen to Melinda and just continues to insist on making Melinda go to the breakfast. |