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Which two statements best describe how the playwright develops the theme of shared humanity in the poem? Select TWO correct answers.
- A. By showing how people from different backgrounds connect over food
- C. By describing the sharing of personal stories and cultural traditions
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Part A: How does the playwright's interaction with the Palestinian woman contribute to the development of the poem's theme?
- B. It demonstrates the power of empathy and connection
Part B: Which line from the poem best supports your answer to Part A?
- B. "I stooped to put my arm around the woman and spoke haltingly."
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What does the author's comparison of sharing cookies to a Sacrament suggest about the interaction?
- B. It held a deep, almost spiritual significance
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Which statement best describes the central theme of the poem?
- C. The power of human connection across language barriers
Which two statements best describe how the playwright develops the theme of shared humanity in the poem? Select TWO correct answers.
A.By showing how people from different backgrounds connect over food
B.By emphasizing the efficiency of airport security measures
C.By describing the sharing of personal stories and cultural traditions
D.By focusing on the technological advancements in air travel
E.By highlighting the importance of multilingual communication
8a.
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
How does the playwright's interaction with the Palestinian woman contribute to the development of the poem's theme?
A.It showcases the playwright's linguistic skills
B.It demonstrates the power of empathy and connection
C.It highlights the inefficiency of airport procedures
D.It emphasizes the stress of air travel
8b.
Which line from the poem best supports your answer to Part A?
A."Well — one pauses these days. Gate A-4 was my own gate. I went there."
B."I stooped to put my arm around the woman and spoke haltingly."
C."We called her son, I spoke with him in English."
D."This all took up two hours."
9.
Read the following line from the poem:
"To my amazement, not a single woman declined
one. It was like a Sacrament."
What does the author's comparison of sharing cookies to a Sacrament suggest about the interaction?
A.It was a religious experience for all involved
B.It held a deep, almost spiritual significance
C.It was an unusual occurrence in an airport
D.It was a mandatory part of the waiting process
10.
Which statement best describes the central theme of the poem?
A.The importance of cultural diversity in airports
B.The challenges of international travel
C.The power of human connection across language barriers
D.The frustration of flight delays and cancellations
Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport
Terminal, after learning
my flight had been delayed four hours, I
heard an announcement:
“If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4
understands any Arabic, please
come to the gate immediately.”
5 Well — one pauses these days. Gate A-4 was
my own gate. I went there.
An older woman in full traditional Palestinian
embroidered dress, just
like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the
floor, wailing. “Help,”
said the flight agent. “Talk to her. What is her problem? We
told her the flight was going to be late and she did this.”
10 I stooped to put my arm around the woman and spoke haltingly.
“Shu-dow-a, Shu-bid-uck Habibti? Stani schway, Min fadlick, Shu-bit
Se-wee?” The minute she heard any words she knew, however poorly
used, she stopped crying. She thought the flight had been cancelled
entirely. She needed to be in El Paso for major medical treatment the
15 next day. I said, “No, we’re fine, you’ll get there, just later, who is
picking you up? Let’s call him.”
We called her son, I spoke with him in English. I told him I would
stay with his mother till we got on the plane and ride next to
her. She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just
20 for the fun of it. Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a
while in Arabic and found out of course they had ten shared friends.
Then I thought just for the heck of it why not call some Palestinian poets I know
and let them chat with her? This all took up two hours.
She was laughing a lot by then. Telling of her life, patting my knee,
25 answering questions. She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool
cookies — little powdered sugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and
nuts — from her bag — and was offering them to all the women at the gate.
To my amazement, not a single woman declined one. It was like a
Sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the mom from California, the
30 lovely woman from Laredo — we were all covered with the same powdered
sugar. And smiling. There is no better cookie.
And then the airline broke out free apple juice from huge coolers and two
little girls from our flight ran around serving it and they
were covered with powdered sugar, too. And I noticed my new best friend —
35
40 by now we were holding hands — had a potted plant poking out of her bag,
some medicinal thing, with green furry leaves. Such an old country tradi-
tion. Always carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.
And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones and I thought, This
is the world I want to live in. The shared world. Not a single person in that
gate — once the crying of confusion stopped — seemed apprehensive about
any other person. They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other women, too.
This can still happen anywhere. Not everything is lost.
1 answer