"A Likely Place" By: Paula Fox
Interpretive Questions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes to support.
1.) Why does Lewis have trouble getting “the hang of answering grown-ups”? Lewis has trouble getting the "hang of answering grown-ups" because the grown-ups are making him uncomfortable.
2.) Why does Lewis think about running away when people offer to help him? Lewis thinks about running away when people offer to help him because he wants to be independent.
3.) Why is Lewis’s one wish “to make people stop asking him how he felt – or telling him how he felt”? (p. 111) Lewis's one wish is "to make people stop asking him how he felt - or telling him how he felt" because he knows its none of their business.
4.) Why doesn’t Lewis try to explain to adults what is bothering him? He doesn't explain to the adults what's bothering him because they won't understand.
5.) Why is Lewis more successful at doing what Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga ask him to do that what his parents and teachers as him to do? Lewis is successful at doing what Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga ask him to do that what his parents and teachers ask his parents and teachers are boring but Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga are interesting.
6.) Why does Lewis grow more confident after a week with Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga? He is more confident because he had more freedom with Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga.
7.) Why is Lewis bored to death by the fish his parents gave him? He was bored to death because the fish did nothing except swim around the tank.
8.) Why does Miss Fitchlow remind Lewis of “agreeable things even though he didn’t always understand what she was talking about”? (p. 129)
9.) Why is Lewis able to write an effective letter for Mr. Madruga? Lewis is able to write an effective letter because there is no pressure and there is a compromise that if he writes the letter for Mr. Madruga, they will find a cave.
10.) Why does the story end with Lewis telling his parents, “I’ll get bigger,” and Miss Fitchlow agreeing with him? (p. 140) The story ends with Lewis saying "I'll get bigger" (p. 140) with Miss Fitchlow ageing with him because Lewis know he will grow bigger and Miss Fitchlow is supporting him.
Vocabulary:
1.) Absolute (p. 112)
Quote: " 'It's too bad you live in the city where you only have a dirty, dinky playground to run around in,' an absolute stranger would say" (p. 112)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): complete
Synonym: total
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The absolute stranger said hi to me.
2.) Objection (p. 114)
Quote: "The only objection he had to reading to them was that they liked to hear the same story over and over again." (p. 114)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): part he doesn't like
Synonym: protest
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The objection caused the crowd too boo.
3.) Amplify (p. 115)
Quote: " 'If we could amplify that note of yours over a public-address system, all the mice living in this city would hit the road!' " (p. 115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): make louder
Synonym: louden
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): To amplify the music you need speakers and a microphone.
4.) Probable (p. 120)
Quote: " 'Possible, but not probable,' said Miss Fitchlow." (p. 120)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): likely
Synonym: predictable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It would be probable if the odds were two to one.
5.) Meditate (p. 128)
Quote: " 'Meditate,' she replied" (p. 128)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): think deeply
Synonym: reflect
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have seen people meditate before.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Lewis creates a problem for himself or someone else creates a problem for Lewis. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Lewis Creates a Problem for Himself V. Someone Else Creates a Problem for Lewis
1.) Why does Lewis have trouble getting “the hang of answering grown-ups”? Lewis has trouble getting the "hang of answering grown-ups" because the grown-ups are making him uncomfortable.
2.) Why does Lewis think about running away when people offer to help him? Lewis thinks about running away when people offer to help him because he wants to be independent.
3.) Why is Lewis’s one wish “to make people stop asking him how he felt – or telling him how he felt”? (p. 111) Lewis's one wish is "to make people stop asking him how he felt - or telling him how he felt" because he knows its none of their business.
4.) Why doesn’t Lewis try to explain to adults what is bothering him? He doesn't explain to the adults what's bothering him because they won't understand.
5.) Why is Lewis more successful at doing what Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga ask him to do that what his parents and teachers as him to do? Lewis is successful at doing what Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga ask him to do that what his parents and teachers ask his parents and teachers are boring but Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga are interesting.
6.) Why does Lewis grow more confident after a week with Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga? He is more confident because he had more freedom with Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga.
7.) Why is Lewis bored to death by the fish his parents gave him? He was bored to death because the fish did nothing except swim around the tank.
8.) Why does Miss Fitchlow remind Lewis of “agreeable things even though he didn’t always understand what she was talking about”? (p. 129)
9.) Why is Lewis able to write an effective letter for Mr. Madruga? Lewis is able to write an effective letter because there is no pressure and there is a compromise that if he writes the letter for Mr. Madruga, they will find a cave.
10.) Why does the story end with Lewis telling his parents, “I’ll get bigger,” and Miss Fitchlow agreeing with him? (p. 140) The story ends with Lewis saying "I'll get bigger" (p. 140) with Miss Fitchlow ageing with him because Lewis know he will grow bigger and Miss Fitchlow is supporting him.
Vocabulary:
1.) Absolute (p. 112)
Quote: " 'It's too bad you live in the city where you only have a dirty, dinky playground to run around in,' an absolute stranger would say" (p. 112)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): complete
Synonym: total
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The absolute stranger said hi to me.
2.) Objection (p. 114)
Quote: "The only objection he had to reading to them was that they liked to hear the same story over and over again." (p. 114)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): part he doesn't like
Synonym: protest
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The objection caused the crowd too boo.
3.) Amplify (p. 115)
Quote: " 'If we could amplify that note of yours over a public-address system, all the mice living in this city would hit the road!' " (p. 115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): make louder
Synonym: louden
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): To amplify the music you need speakers and a microphone.
4.) Probable (p. 120)
Quote: " 'Possible, but not probable,' said Miss Fitchlow." (p. 120)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): likely
Synonym: predictable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It would be probable if the odds were two to one.
5.) Meditate (p. 128)
Quote: " 'Meditate,' she replied" (p. 128)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): think deeply
Synonym: reflect
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have seen people meditate before.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Lewis creates a problem for himself or someone else creates a problem for Lewis. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Lewis Creates a Problem for Himself V. Someone Else Creates a Problem for Lewis