Approximations
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 wants to see him and build a relationship.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
She pays the bills and feels entitled to the tv because 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?
She's awkward around him and doesn't want to ruin the little bit of a relationship they have by demanding something. Her other on the other hand is excited to get something out of it. She's seeking revenge.
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)
Even though she really wants the candy she doesn't want to disobey her mom.
At the end of the day she's with her mom not her dad, so she does whatever she tells her to do.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
She says it in the intent to harm her and show her she's disappointed that she didn't get the tv. She acted differently around her dad. She kept quiet and looked at the ground. She's nervous and doesn't know him that well.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
Jerry is the only one that doesn't want anything from her. He loves her for herself.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
her mother's attention and affection has shifted from her to Jerry.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
She forgot about the event and doesn't see Jerry as her father so she didn't want to go with him. She's still navigating her relationships and is trying to accept Jerry's love.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
She knows better than to talk back and accepts that her mother needs to vent and she is reflecting on herself and realizes that she is acting different. It did upset her, but she kept it silent.
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)
He's the only one showing her affection at the time
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "'You must miss him.' Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (Page 92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): motherly, feelings relating to a mother
Synonym: parental
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): That boy's grandmother is maternal to him by constantly hugging and kissing him.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (Page 95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): very comfortable, enjoyable, fancy
Synonym: elegant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The rich man luxuriously sipped his cup of tea in the restaurant.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (Page 97)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): gorgeous, amazing, beautiful
Synonym: exquisite
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The glamorous supermodel walked down the runaway with a beautiful dress.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (Page 98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to reflect light
Synonym: gleam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The mirror glinted towards my eyes, blinding me.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "She had already stopped telling Jerry the things she wanted because he tried to get them for her and he made mistakes. He approximated. He bought her the wrong kind of record player for Christmas and he got a dull gold Cadillac, a used car, for her birthday."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): come close to or to be similar to something, to estimate or calculate or predict
Synonym: near
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The mathematician approximated what the answer to the math problem would be.
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.
Good
1 provides financial support
2 mentors her ice skating
3 protective of melinda
4 doesnt bad mouth dad near melinda
5 encouraging to not be a pretty face, but to have talent and skills
Bad
1 encourages lying about tv
2 yells at her
3 doesnt pay attention to melinda
4 forces melinda to try to go to girl sccout breakfast
5 makes melinda feel bad about his presents
1.) Why does Melinda cooperate with her mother’s plan to get her father to buy the television?
She wants to see him and build a relationship.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
She pays the bills and feels entitled to the tv because 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?
She's awkward around him and doesn't want to ruin the little bit of a relationship they have by demanding something. Her other on the other hand is excited to get something out of it. She's seeking revenge.
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)
Even though she really wants the candy she doesn't want to disobey her mom.
At the end of the day she's with her mom not her dad, so she does whatever she tells her to do.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
She says it in the intent to harm her and show her she's disappointed that she didn't get the tv. She acted differently around her dad. She kept quiet and looked at the ground. She's nervous and doesn't know him that well.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
Jerry is the only one that doesn't want anything from her. He loves her for herself.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
her mother's attention and affection has shifted from her to Jerry.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
She forgot about the event and doesn't see Jerry as her father so she didn't want to go with him. She's still navigating her relationships and is trying to accept Jerry's love.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
She knows better than to talk back and accepts that her mother needs to vent and she is reflecting on herself and realizes that she is acting different. It did upset her, but she kept it silent.
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)
He's the only one showing her affection at the time
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Maternal (p. 92)
Quote: "'You must miss him.' Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (Page 92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): motherly, feelings relating to a mother
Synonym: parental
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): That boy's grandmother is maternal to him by constantly hugging and kissing him.
2.) Luxuriously (p. 95)
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (Page 95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): very comfortable, enjoyable, fancy
Synonym: elegant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The rich man luxuriously sipped his cup of tea in the restaurant.
3.) Glamorous (p. 97)
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (Page 97)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): gorgeous, amazing, beautiful
Synonym: exquisite
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The glamorous supermodel walked down the runaway with a beautiful dress.
4.) Glinted (p. 98)
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (Page 98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to reflect light
Synonym: gleam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The mirror glinted towards my eyes, blinding me.
5.) Approximated (p. 100)
Quote: "She had already stopped telling Jerry the things she wanted because he tried to get them for her and he made mistakes. He approximated. He bought her the wrong kind of record player for Christmas and he got a dull gold Cadillac, a used car, for her birthday."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): come close to or to be similar to something, to estimate or calculate or predict
Synonym: near
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The mathematician approximated what the answer to the math problem would be.
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.
Good
1 provides financial support
2 mentors her ice skating
3 protective of melinda
4 doesnt bad mouth dad near melinda
5 encouraging to not be a pretty face, but to have talent and skills
Bad
1 encourages lying about tv
2 yells at her
3 doesnt pay attention to melinda
4 forces melinda to try to go to girl sccout breakfast
5 makes melinda feel bad about his presents