Question
from When I was Puerto Rican
By Esmeralda Santiago
Retrieved from © Savvas myPerspectives English I-IV. Used with permission.
...
26 A few days later, Mr. Barone called me back to his office.
27 “Well?” Tiny green flecks burned around the black pupils of his hazel eyes.
28 The night before, Mami had called us into the living room. On the television “fifty of America’s most beautiful girls” paraded in ruffled tulle dresses before a tinsel waterfall.
29 “Aren’t they lovely?” Mami murmured, as the girls, escorted by boys in uniform, floated by the camera, twirled, and disappeared behind a screen to the strains of a waltz and an announcer’s dramatic voice calling their names, ages, and states. Mami sat mesmerized through the whole pageant.
30 “I’d like to be a model,” I said to Mr. Barone.
31 He stared at me, pulled his glasses down from his forehead, looked at the papers inside the folder with my name on it, and glared. “A model?” His voice was gruff, as if he were more comfortable yelling at people than talking to them.
32 “I want to be on television.”
33 “Oh, then you want to be an actress,” in a tone that said this was only a slight improvement over my first career choice. We stared at one another for a few seconds. He pushed his glasses up to his forehead again and reached for a book on the shelf in back of him. “I only know of one school that trains actresses, but we’ve never sent them a student from here.”
34 Performing Arts, the write-up said, was an academic, as opposed to a vocational, public school that trained students wishing to pursue a career in theater, music, and dance.
35 “It says here that you have to audition.” He stood up and held the book closer to the faint gray light coming through the narrow window high on his wall. “Have you ever performed in front of an audience?”
36 “I was announcer in my school show in Puerto Rico,” I said. “And I recite poetry. There, not here.”
37 He closed the book and held it against his chest. His right index finger thumped a rhythm on his lower lip. “Let me call them and find out exactly what you need to do. Then we can talk some more.”
38 I left his office strangely happy, confident that something good had just happened, not knowing exactly what.
39 “I’m not afraid . . . I’m not afraid . . . I’m not afraid.” Every day I walked home from school repeating those words. The broad streets and sidewalks that had impressed me so on the first day we had arrived had become as familiar as the dirt road from Macún to the highway. Only my curiosity about the people who lived behind these walls ended where the façades of the buildings opened into dark hallways or locked doors. Nothing good, I imagined, could be happening inside if so many locks had to be breached to go in or step out.
40 It was on these tense walks home from school that I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn. Mami had chosen this as our home, and just like every other time we’d moved, I’d had to go along with her because I was a child who had no choice. But I wasn’t willing to go along with her on this one.
41 “How can people live like this?” I shrieked once, desperate to run across a field, to feel grass under my feet instead of pavement.
42 “Like what?” Mami asked, looking around our apartment, the kitchen and living room crisscrossed with sagging lines of drying diapers and bedclothes.
43 “Everyone on top of each other. No room to do anything. No air.”
44 “Do you want to go back to Macún, to live like savages, with no electricity, no toilets . . .”
Excerpt from “When I Was Puerto Rican” by Esmeralda Santiago (1993). Retrieved from © Savvas myPerspectives English I-IV. Used with permission.
7.
How does the narrator's description of Brooklyn in paragraphs 39-40 reflect her feelings about her new environment?
A.She finds the urban landscape exciting and full of possibilities
B.She feels overwhelmed and constrained by the unfamiliar setting
C.She appreciates the safety and security of her new surroundings
D.She is indifferent to the changes in her living situation
8.
How do the events described in paragraphs 31-33 contribute to the plot?
A.They introduce a conflict that the protagonist must resolve later in the story.
B.They highlight the protagonist's initial skepticism about pursuing a career in the performing arts.
C.They foreshadow future challenges that the protagonist will face in her pursuit of becoming a model.
D.They establish the protagonist's motivation and desire to pursue a career in acting.
9a.
Based on the information in paragraph 29, what can be inferred about Mami's attitude towards the pageant?
A.She was critically analyzing the participants' performances
B.She was distracted by other household activities
C.She was captivated by the spectacle of the event
D.She was comparing the contestants to local beauty standards
9b.
Which phrase from paragraph 29 best supports the inference in Part A?
A."Aren't they lovely?"
B."escorted by boys in uniform"
C."floated by the camera, twirled, and disappeared"
D."to the strains of a waltz and an announcer's dramatic voice"
10.
The archetype that Esmeralda most closely resembles in When I Was Puerto Rican is (Select) .
11.
In paragraph 44, Mami uses the word "savages" to emphasize:
A.The narrator's longing for a simpler way of life
B.The contrast between urban and rural living conditions
C.The perceived backwardness of their former home
D.The challenges of adapting to a new environment
12.
Which events in this excerpt express the theme of pursuing dreams despite obstacles?
Select TWO correct answers.
A.The narrator watches a beauty pageant on television.
B.Mr. Barone looks through the school information book.
C.The narrator's decision to leave Brooklyn.
D.The narrator tells Mr. Barone she wants to be a model.
E.The narrator recalls her life in Puerto Rico.
13.
Which detail from the excerpt best supports the key idea that the narrator is determined to change her circumstances?
A.The night before, Mami had called us into the living room. (paragraph 28)
B.He pushed his glasses up to his forehead again and reached for a book on the shelf in back of him. (paragraph 33)
C.I left his office strangely happy, confident that something good had just happened, not knowing exactly what. (paragraph 38)
D.It was on these tense walks home from school that I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn. (paragraph 40)
14.
How does the narrator’s struggle with her sense of belonging in the excerpt from When I Was Puerto Rican reflect similar challenges individuals face in new environments? Explain and support your answer using evidence from the text.
By Esmeralda Santiago
Retrieved from © Savvas myPerspectives English I-IV. Used with permission.
...
26 A few days later, Mr. Barone called me back to his office.
27 “Well?” Tiny green flecks burned around the black pupils of his hazel eyes.
28 The night before, Mami had called us into the living room. On the television “fifty of America’s most beautiful girls” paraded in ruffled tulle dresses before a tinsel waterfall.
29 “Aren’t they lovely?” Mami murmured, as the girls, escorted by boys in uniform, floated by the camera, twirled, and disappeared behind a screen to the strains of a waltz and an announcer’s dramatic voice calling their names, ages, and states. Mami sat mesmerized through the whole pageant.
30 “I’d like to be a model,” I said to Mr. Barone.
31 He stared at me, pulled his glasses down from his forehead, looked at the papers inside the folder with my name on it, and glared. “A model?” His voice was gruff, as if he were more comfortable yelling at people than talking to them.
32 “I want to be on television.”
33 “Oh, then you want to be an actress,” in a tone that said this was only a slight improvement over my first career choice. We stared at one another for a few seconds. He pushed his glasses up to his forehead again and reached for a book on the shelf in back of him. “I only know of one school that trains actresses, but we’ve never sent them a student from here.”
34 Performing Arts, the write-up said, was an academic, as opposed to a vocational, public school that trained students wishing to pursue a career in theater, music, and dance.
35 “It says here that you have to audition.” He stood up and held the book closer to the faint gray light coming through the narrow window high on his wall. “Have you ever performed in front of an audience?”
36 “I was announcer in my school show in Puerto Rico,” I said. “And I recite poetry. There, not here.”
37 He closed the book and held it against his chest. His right index finger thumped a rhythm on his lower lip. “Let me call them and find out exactly what you need to do. Then we can talk some more.”
38 I left his office strangely happy, confident that something good had just happened, not knowing exactly what.
39 “I’m not afraid . . . I’m not afraid . . . I’m not afraid.” Every day I walked home from school repeating those words. The broad streets and sidewalks that had impressed me so on the first day we had arrived had become as familiar as the dirt road from Macún to the highway. Only my curiosity about the people who lived behind these walls ended where the façades of the buildings opened into dark hallways or locked doors. Nothing good, I imagined, could be happening inside if so many locks had to be breached to go in or step out.
40 It was on these tense walks home from school that I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn. Mami had chosen this as our home, and just like every other time we’d moved, I’d had to go along with her because I was a child who had no choice. But I wasn’t willing to go along with her on this one.
41 “How can people live like this?” I shrieked once, desperate to run across a field, to feel grass under my feet instead of pavement.
42 “Like what?” Mami asked, looking around our apartment, the kitchen and living room crisscrossed with sagging lines of drying diapers and bedclothes.
43 “Everyone on top of each other. No room to do anything. No air.”
44 “Do you want to go back to Macún, to live like savages, with no electricity, no toilets . . .”
Excerpt from “When I Was Puerto Rican” by Esmeralda Santiago (1993). Retrieved from © Savvas myPerspectives English I-IV. Used with permission.
7.
How does the narrator's description of Brooklyn in paragraphs 39-40 reflect her feelings about her new environment?
A.She finds the urban landscape exciting and full of possibilities
B.She feels overwhelmed and constrained by the unfamiliar setting
C.She appreciates the safety and security of her new surroundings
D.She is indifferent to the changes in her living situation
8.
How do the events described in paragraphs 31-33 contribute to the plot?
A.They introduce a conflict that the protagonist must resolve later in the story.
B.They highlight the protagonist's initial skepticism about pursuing a career in the performing arts.
C.They foreshadow future challenges that the protagonist will face in her pursuit of becoming a model.
D.They establish the protagonist's motivation and desire to pursue a career in acting.
9a.
Based on the information in paragraph 29, what can be inferred about Mami's attitude towards the pageant?
A.She was critically analyzing the participants' performances
B.She was distracted by other household activities
C.She was captivated by the spectacle of the event
D.She was comparing the contestants to local beauty standards
9b.
Which phrase from paragraph 29 best supports the inference in Part A?
A."Aren't they lovely?"
B."escorted by boys in uniform"
C."floated by the camera, twirled, and disappeared"
D."to the strains of a waltz and an announcer's dramatic voice"
10.
The archetype that Esmeralda most closely resembles in When I Was Puerto Rican is (Select) .
11.
In paragraph 44, Mami uses the word "savages" to emphasize:
A.The narrator's longing for a simpler way of life
B.The contrast between urban and rural living conditions
C.The perceived backwardness of their former home
D.The challenges of adapting to a new environment
12.
Which events in this excerpt express the theme of pursuing dreams despite obstacles?
Select TWO correct answers.
A.The narrator watches a beauty pageant on television.
B.Mr. Barone looks through the school information book.
C.The narrator's decision to leave Brooklyn.
D.The narrator tells Mr. Barone she wants to be a model.
E.The narrator recalls her life in Puerto Rico.
13.
Which detail from the excerpt best supports the key idea that the narrator is determined to change her circumstances?
A.The night before, Mami had called us into the living room. (paragraph 28)
B.He pushed his glasses up to his forehead again and reached for a book on the shelf in back of him. (paragraph 33)
C.I left his office strangely happy, confident that something good had just happened, not knowing exactly what. (paragraph 38)
D.It was on these tense walks home from school that I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn. (paragraph 40)
14.
How does the narrator’s struggle with her sense of belonging in the excerpt from When I Was Puerto Rican reflect similar challenges individuals face in new environments? Explain and support your answer using evidence from the text.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are the answers to the questions based on the provided excerpt from *When I Was Puerto Rican* by Esmeralda Santiago:
7. **B. She feels overwhelmed and constrained by the unfamiliar setting.**
In paragraphs 39-40, the narrator expresses her frustration and desire to escape the crowded and confining conditions of Brooklyn, indicating that she feels overwhelmed by her new environment.
8. **D. They establish the protagonist's motivation and desire to pursue a career in acting.**
In paragraphs 31-33, the exchange between the narrator and Mr. Barone reveals the protagonist’s aspiration to become a model or actress, laying the groundwork for her motivations in the story.
9a. **C. She was captivated by the spectacle of the event.**
It is clear from the description that Mami found the beauty pageant enthralling, as indicated by her murmured admiration while watching the show.
9b. **A. "Aren't they lovely?"**
This phrase directly indicates Mami's admiration for the participants, supporting the inference that she was captivated by the spectacle.
10. **The archetype that Esmeralda most closely resembles in *When I Was Puerto Rican* is the Dreamer.**
(Note: Without specific choices provided, this response assumes the archetype relates to aspirations and pursuing goals, which fits Esmeralda’s character throughout the excerpt.)
11. **C. The perceived backwardness of their former home.**
Mami’s use of the term "savages" reflects a judgment about their previous living conditions in Puerto Rico, emphasizing her view that urban life in Brooklyn is superior.
12. **D. The narrator tells Mr. Barone she wants to be a model.**
**A. The narrator watches a beauty pageant on television.**
Both events showcase the narrator’s desires and aspirations, illustrating the theme of pursuing dreams despite obstacles.
13. **D. It was on these tense walks home from school that I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn.**
This detail shows the narrator's determination to change her circumstances and seek a different life, directly reflecting her desire to overcome her feelings of confinement.
14. The narrator’s struggle with her sense of belonging in the excerpt reflects challenges individuals often face in new environments, such as feelings of dislocation and the search for identity. The narrator’s description of her discomfort walking home, where she finds the urban landscape stifling ("No room to do anything. No air." in paragraph 43), exemplifies this struggle. She longs for the freedom and familiarity of her previous home in Macún, emphasizing her disconnection in Brooklyn. Her resolve to change her circumstances (“I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn.” in paragraph 40) indicates a common desire among those in new environments to seek spaces where they feel more at home and less constrained. Such experiences resonate with many individuals who relocate and must navigate the complexities of adapting to an unfamiliar culture and setting.
7. **B. She feels overwhelmed and constrained by the unfamiliar setting.**
In paragraphs 39-40, the narrator expresses her frustration and desire to escape the crowded and confining conditions of Brooklyn, indicating that she feels overwhelmed by her new environment.
8. **D. They establish the protagonist's motivation and desire to pursue a career in acting.**
In paragraphs 31-33, the exchange between the narrator and Mr. Barone reveals the protagonist’s aspiration to become a model or actress, laying the groundwork for her motivations in the story.
9a. **C. She was captivated by the spectacle of the event.**
It is clear from the description that Mami found the beauty pageant enthralling, as indicated by her murmured admiration while watching the show.
9b. **A. "Aren't they lovely?"**
This phrase directly indicates Mami's admiration for the participants, supporting the inference that she was captivated by the spectacle.
10. **The archetype that Esmeralda most closely resembles in *When I Was Puerto Rican* is the Dreamer.**
(Note: Without specific choices provided, this response assumes the archetype relates to aspirations and pursuing goals, which fits Esmeralda’s character throughout the excerpt.)
11. **C. The perceived backwardness of their former home.**
Mami’s use of the term "savages" reflects a judgment about their previous living conditions in Puerto Rico, emphasizing her view that urban life in Brooklyn is superior.
12. **D. The narrator tells Mr. Barone she wants to be a model.**
**A. The narrator watches a beauty pageant on television.**
Both events showcase the narrator’s desires and aspirations, illustrating the theme of pursuing dreams despite obstacles.
13. **D. It was on these tense walks home from school that I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn.**
This detail shows the narrator's determination to change her circumstances and seek a different life, directly reflecting her desire to overcome her feelings of confinement.
14. The narrator’s struggle with her sense of belonging in the excerpt reflects challenges individuals often face in new environments, such as feelings of dislocation and the search for identity. The narrator’s description of her discomfort walking home, where she finds the urban landscape stifling ("No room to do anything. No air." in paragraph 43), exemplifies this struggle. She longs for the freedom and familiarity of her previous home in Macún, emphasizing her disconnection in Brooklyn. Her resolve to change her circumstances (“I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn.” in paragraph 40) indicates a common desire among those in new environments to seek spaces where they feel more at home and less constrained. Such experiences resonate with many individuals who relocate and must navigate the complexities of adapting to an unfamiliar culture and setting.