In the novel "the book of unknown Americans" by Cristina henriquez which statement best describes the narrators internal conflict in the story?

Question

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

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

The narrator experiences feeling more American that 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 his memories

Answer 1

The statement that best describes the narrator's internal conflict in "The Book of Unknown Americans" is:

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

This reflects the complexity of the narrator's identity as he navigates the cultural expectations and familial pressures surrounding his heritage and the immigrant experience.

Answer 2

Which quote from the Novel best represents it's main theme?

"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 my, 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 always miserable. Holidays were always bad..." (paragraph 26)

Answer 3

The quote that best represents the main theme of the novel is:

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

This quote encapsulates the struggles of identity and belonging that are central to the novel, highlighting the internal conflict faced by the characters as they navigate their lives as immigrants in America. It reflects the themes of cultural identity, assimilation, and the search for a sense of home.

Answer 4

Which sentence from paragraph 4 suggests that the family will not return to Panama?

"They needed to believe they'd done the right thing and it made sense"

"But while thy waited for that day, they started making friends"

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

"And before I knew it, we had a life here"

Answer 5

The sentence from paragraph 4 that suggests the family will not return to Panama is:

"And before I knew it, we had a life here."

This indicates that the family is beginning to establish their lives in the new country, implying that they are settling in and not planning to go back to Panama.

Answer 6

Read these sentences from paragraph 12.
"They think we're Americans now. And maybe we are! Maybe we don't belong there after all."

What causes the father to make this statement?

The father regrets leaving Panama with his family because he now knows that his classmates are angry that he left their country and got a job.

The class president accuses the father of thinking he is better than everyone who stayed in Panama because the father left and became an American citizen

The class president suggests that Americsn citizenship has no value

The father respects the class president who wants to return to Panama

Answer 7

The statement made by the father is caused by:

The class president accuses the father of thinking he is better than everyone who stayed in Panama because the father left and became an American citizen.

This accusation likely leads the father to reflect on his identity and belonging, causing him to question his relationship with both his homeland and his new country.

Answer 8

This part has two parts. First answer part A. Then, answer part B.
PART A
which word best describes how the narrators mother feels about the family calls home?

Conflicted
Excited
Resigned
Satisfied

PART B

Which quote from the novel best supports the answer to part A?
"My mom stood in the kitchen, a soapy pot in her hand, and looked at me baffled. 'What happened?' She asked" (paragraph 13)

"When my mom saw what it was, she said 'More killing? That's what you want? More?' And Gustavo said 'not killing, justice' (paragraph 25)

"My aunt called, which cheered my mom up for a while, but once that wore off, she was more down than ever, shuffling around the house in her slippers, no makeup, her hair a disaster" (paragraph 27)

"And I think we all sensed, standing there, just how far we were from where we had come, both good and bad"

Answer 9

PART A

The word that best describes how the narrator's mother feels about the family’s calls home is:

Conflicted.

PART B

The quote from the novel that best supports the answer to part A is:

"My aunt called, which cheered my mom up for a while, but once that wore off, she was more down than ever, shuffling around the house in her slippers, no makeup, her hair a disaster" (paragraph 27).

This quote illustrates the mother's complicated emotions; while she finds temporary joy in connections with family back home, it ultimately leads to feelings of sadness and disconnection, reflecting her conflicted feelings about their new life versus their past in Panama.

Answer 10

What lesson does the narrator learn when his family goes to the beach?

Enrique is shallow because he is only concerned about his sneakers

His mother likes living in America even though she misses her old home

American are more beautiful than beaches in Panama

His parents have moved on from thinking of Panama as their home

Answer 11

The lesson the narrator learns when his family goes to the beach is:

His parents have moved on from thinking of Panama as their home.

During the beach trip, the narrator observes that his family's experiences in America are becoming more central to their identities, indicating a shift in their sense of belonging and attachment to their former home.