The Book of Unknown Americans Selection Test

Move the events of the selection into the order in which they happen in the story.

1. the narrator explains the story of when his family left Panama. 2. the family members become american citizens 3. the narrators father finds out how his high school classmates feel about him leaving Panama 4. the narrators father takes them to a beach to remember Panama

Which sentence from paragraphs 1 to 5 foreshadows that the family will not return to Panamá?

And before they knew it, we had a life here.

Look at the dictionary entry below. froth \frôth\ n 1. a fit of anger or vexation 2. something unsubstantial or trivial 3. salivary foam released as a result of disease or exhaustion 4. high prices unwarranted by economic fundamentals Which definition most closely matches the way the word froth is used in paragraph 22?

Definition 1

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

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

Read these sentences from paragraph 12. "They think we're Americans now. And maybe we are! Maybe we don't belong there anymore after all." What causes the father to make this statement?

The class president accuses the father of being better than everyone who stayed in Panamá because the father left and became an American citizen.

Compare how the narrator explicitly reveals his attitude about his cultural identity versus his parents' attitudes that are revealed implicitly. Support your answer with evidence from the selection.

The narrator feels that he is American but is too scared to admit it. "The truth was that I didn't know which I was. I wasn't allowed to claim the thing I felt and I didn't feel the thing I was supposed to claim". His mom and dad aren't sure who they are, Panamanian or American. The dad says "They think we're Americans now. And maybe we are! Maybe we don't belong there anymore after all." They are unsure of their own identity as well. The narrator feels more americanized, while the parents do not, and are still trying to find their identity.

Which statement best describes the narrator's internal conflict in the story?

The narrator is pressured by his family about feeling Panamanian and by his peers about not being American, yet he feels more American than Panamanian.

"The Book of Unknown Americans" describes a series of causes and effects that lead the Toro family to never return to visit Panamá. Select the box that shows which cause leads to each effect.

The narrator's father sees the airplanes flying into the towers on television → the last trip that is planned to visit Panama is canceled The narrator's father calls the class president to tell him they will be coming to the reunion → The narrator's father realizes he doesn't belong in Panamá anymore. The narrator's father gets a job in America → The family makes a life in their new home and does not want to move again.

In paragraph 22, the word conferring comes from a Latin root word that means to —

talk

As used in paragraph 25, what does the word recruit mean?

to enlist

How does the narrator's mother feel about the place the family calls home? Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

The narrators mom isn't very comfortable with their home. After 9/11, she is filled with fear, because she thought it was going to be safer in America. "'We moved here because it was supposed to be safer! Where can we go after this?'" But at the end of the story, when they go to the beach,she feels comfortable finally, and feels that it is her home. It is not explicitly said but it is implied. "'It's beautiful,' my mom said, staring out at the ocean. She sighed and shook her head.'This country'".

Which excerpt from the selection best represents its main message?

You want Panamá?" he said. "A beach is the closest thing you're going to get."