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 obeying her mom because she has been there for her since the beginning.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father? She doesn't get anything and the dad never did anything with money. She never gets anything from him.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready? Melinda doesn't know what to say and she doesn't want to ruin the relationship that they are forming, it's awkward to talk to him.
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 thinks that she is going to get the TV. The mom is using her own daughter to get an expensive item.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103) She is upset because she didn't get the TV. The mom was acting weird around the father. Melinda is nervous about talking to her dad because she doesn't know them.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother? She feels comfortable around Jerry and he is like a father to her. Jerry wants to adopt her.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show? Her mom won't give her attention because she is focused on dancing.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry? He isn't a replacement, Melinda forgot about the breakfast, she is still figuring out the whole situation.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent? Melinda knows better than to talk back to her mom because she knows it's rude. She doesn't want to fight back because it will justget 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) Melinda doesn't have anyone else to go to and Jerry accepts her for who she is.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (p.92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): motherly
Synonym: mom
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Everyone deserves a maternal figure.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg aver the other, smoking luxuriously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): ministering or conducive to luxury
Synonym: sensual
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We stayed at a 5 star hotel, I described the rooms as luxurious.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): charmingly, fascinatingly attractive
Synonym: alluring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The glamorous job of a foreign correspondent.
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): sparkle
Synonym: gleam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her dress glinted across the room.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "He approximated."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): guessed
Synonym: guess
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I had to approximate on the question because I didn't know it.
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.
1.) Why does Melinda cooperate with her mother’s plan to get her father to buy the television? She obeying her mom because she has been there for her since the beginning.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father? She doesn't get anything and the dad never did anything with money. She never gets anything from him.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready? Melinda doesn't know what to say and she doesn't want to ruin the relationship that they are forming, it's awkward to talk to him.
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 thinks that she is going to get the TV. The mom is using her own daughter to get an expensive item.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103) She is upset because she didn't get the TV. The mom was acting weird around the father. Melinda is nervous about talking to her dad because she doesn't know them.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother? She feels comfortable around Jerry and he is like a father to her. Jerry wants to adopt her.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show? Her mom won't give her attention because she is focused on dancing.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry? He isn't a replacement, Melinda forgot about the breakfast, she is still figuring out the whole situation.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent? Melinda knows better than to talk back to her mom because she knows it's rude. She doesn't want to fight back because it will justget 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) Melinda doesn't have anyone else to go to and Jerry accepts her for who she is.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (p.92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): motherly
Synonym: mom
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Everyone deserves a maternal figure.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg aver the other, smoking luxuriously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): ministering or conducive to luxury
Synonym: sensual
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We stayed at a 5 star hotel, I described the rooms as luxurious.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): charmingly, fascinatingly attractive
Synonym: alluring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The glamorous job of a foreign correspondent.
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): sparkle
Synonym: gleam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her dress glinted across the room.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "He approximated."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): guessed
Synonym: guess
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I had to approximate on the question because I didn't know it.
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.
She provides finantial assistance.
She taught her how to ice skate. She lets Melinda see and talk to her father for the first time. She doesn't bad mouth the father. She is encouraging Melinda to have talents and not just a pretty face. |
She encourages lying about the TV.
She tells her daughter that she is dumb. She doesn't pay attention to her daughter while skating. She complains about paying for everything. To a kid. |