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?
She wanted to make her mom happy.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
Melinda's mother makes the tv her goal because she never gets what she wants.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
Her mother is having fun because she thinks she'll get what she wants.
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)
She wants to have a moment with her father, but she knows that her mom will get mad.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
She knows that her mom and Jerry won't pay attention to her.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
She was already going on her bike, and she doesn't see Jerry as a dad.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
She is letting her mom vent her emotions, and if she fights back it will just get worse.
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)
She skates with Jerry because he's the only one who wants her, and her doesn't want to use her. She has no one else to go to.
Vocabulary in Context:
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): related to a mother and showing affection
Synonym: motherly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My aunt is a maternal figure.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): extremely desired and fancy
Synonym: elegant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): To some people, McDonalds in luxurious.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): attractive quality
Synonym: enchantment
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The lives of celebrities are often glamorous.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): reflect quick flashes of light
Synonym: flash
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her teeth glinted in the sun.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "He approximated."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): close to actual, but not completely accurate
Synonym: estimate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher made an approximation about out homework, and I was relieved
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.
Supportive:
Pays for her education, health, lessons, etc. (97)
(All)
Helps her with skating by telling her when to go out (98)
She went with Melinda on the plane to protect her.(93)
Encourages Melinda to gain talent not only looks. (92)
Bad:
Isn't paying attention to her and Melinda falls on the ice (98)
Makes her lie other dad (102-103)
She complains about her father's present to Melinda (97)
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?
She wanted to make her mom happy.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
Melinda's mother makes the tv her goal because she never gets what she wants.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
Her mother is having fun because she thinks she'll get what she wants.
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)
She wants to have a moment with her father, but she knows that her mom will get mad.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
She knows that her mom and Jerry won't pay attention to her.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
She was already going on her bike, and she doesn't see Jerry as a dad.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
She is letting her mom vent her emotions, and if she fights back it will just get worse.
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)
She skates with Jerry because he's the only one who wants her, and her doesn't want to use her. She has no one else to go to.
Vocabulary in Context:
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): related to a mother and showing affection
Synonym: motherly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My aunt is a maternal figure.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): extremely desired and fancy
Synonym: elegant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): To some people, McDonalds in luxurious.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): attractive quality
Synonym: enchantment
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The lives of celebrities are often glamorous.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): reflect quick flashes of light
Synonym: flash
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her teeth glinted in the sun.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "He approximated."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): close to actual, but not completely accurate
Synonym: estimate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher made an approximation about out homework, and I was relieved
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.
Supportive:
Pays for her education, health, lessons, etc. (97)
(All)
Helps her with skating by telling her when to go out (98)
She went with Melinda on the plane to protect her.(93)
Encourages Melinda to gain talent not only looks. (92)
Bad:
Isn't paying attention to her and Melinda falls on the ice (98)
Makes her lie other dad (102-103)
She complains about her father's present to Melinda (97)