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The Pearl Steinbeck
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Where does Kino live? | Near the beach |
Why does Kino hear the waves on the beach singing the "Song of the Family"? | Kino feels that it is good for his family to earn their living by working closely with nature. |
Why is it important to know that Kino's people "had once been great makers of songs so that everything they saw or thought or did or heard became a song"? | Depending on what kind of music Kino seems to sense, he gets an intuitive feeling as to whether a person or situation is good or evil. |
Why is Kino able to judge a situation intuitively when he hears music? | Life has its own subtle patterns and rhythms. |
What do the main characters understand about themselves? | They are an underprivileged race. |
Why does Juana suck on Coyotito's scorpion sting? | To draw out the poison before it can get into the bloodstream. |
Why did the neighbors think it a "wonderful thing, memorable thing" to want the doctor? | The lazy doctor cared only for the rich and didn't tend poor Indians. |
Who were the town's best experts in financial analysis? | The beggars |
What does the doctor show when he says, "I am a doctor, not a veterinary"? | He thinks of the natives as animals. |
Does Juana take the pearl to the church? | Juana does not take the pearl to the church. |
How does the doctor know where Kino's pearl is buried? | The doctor had seen Kino's eyes go to the hiding place. |
Why do the pearl buyers put away all the pearls on their desks? | It is not good to let an inferior pearl be seen beside a beauty. |
What reason did the people believe the hired agents selling their pearls in the city were never heard from again? | Divine punishment |
How does the buyer show his surprise when he sees the size and beauty of Kino's pearl? | By dropping the coin he had been skillfully handling. |
How does Kino get supplies after his house burns? | From his brother |
What weapon does Kino use the first time he kills someone? | Knife |
What is one thing Kino does NOT do to hide his footprints as he and his wife leave home? | Walk backward |
What is NOT true about the pearl? | It was so big the pearl buyers knew it was not worth much. |
How many people chase Kino and Juana out of town? | Three |
What must Kino do in order to successfully attack his trackers? | Take off his clothes |
What do the trackers suppose is the murmuring cry they hear in the distance at night? | A coyote |
How is Coyotito killed? | Instantly by a tracker firing his rifle toward the cave. |
What is the author telling the reader when he says that Kino saw evil faces and frantic eyes in the pearl? | Kino now sees the evil of having the pearl. |
What did Kino do at the end of the story? | Threw the pearl into the sea |
This story shows that no matter how exalted or how lowly their possessions, surroundings, or means to a living, how do humans get their dignity and happiness? | From a realization of who they are, not what they have. |
What had Juana prayed directly for? | A large pearl |
What song did Kino sing as he searched for oysters? | The Song of the Undersea |
What was the first thing Kino said he wanted to do after discovering the pearl? | Marry Juana in the church |
What is pulque made from? | Agave juice |
What did the doctor give the baby to pretend he could cure him? | Ammonia |
T/F: Kino is at least able to catch the scorpion and kill it. | TRUE |
T/F: Kino never liked the doctor because he was of another race. | TRUE |
T/F: Although the doctor is really at home when the family goes there, he tells his servant to say he is out on a serious call. | TRUE |
T/F: Kino was proud of the boat he had built. | FALSE (Kino's boat was built by his grandfather.) |
T/F: Since Kino and Juana had been married in the village church, the priest knew they would be happy to help with the necessary repairs. | FALSE(Kino and Juana were not married.) |
T/F: There is really only one pearl buyer. The other men act as his agents and give the appearance they are competing. | TRUE |
T/F: Kino and Juana resented the neighbors' insistence on accompanying them to the town to sell the pearl. | FALSE(It was expected that the neighbors would go with them.) |
T/F: Kino has made his living primarily from fishing, although at times he also searched for pearls. | TRUE |
T/F: When Kino says, "I am a man," Juana knows this means he will try to drive his strength against anything. | TRUE |
T/F: Kino was not a man to be content with what he had. He felt compelled to strive for more. | TRUE |
River mouth | Estuary |
Drowsiness | Lethargy |
Dressing | Poultice |
Closely related | Germane |
Thoughtful | Speculative |
Impatient | Petulant |
Humble | Suppliant |
Monumental | Monolithic |
Defense | Bulwark |
Poor | Indigent |
Pretended | Feinted |
Hill | Hummock |
Wise | Judicious |
Sneaky | Furtive |
Strong | Stalwart |
Why does Juana want to see the doctor? | Coyotito is everything to Juana |
Why is Kino angry and yet ashamed? | The doctor's race has persecuted Kino's race for centuries. |
Why does Kino wait to open the big oyster? | He is afraid to want something too much. |
Why do other people try to steal the pearl? | They are envious of Kino's good fortune. |
Why does the doctor come to see the baby? | He hears Kino found the pearl. |
Why does Kino decide to go to the capital? | The pearl buyers cheat Kino. |
Why does Kino follow and beat Juana? | Juana tries to throw the pearl away. |
Why does Kino kill a man with his knife? | He is ambushed coming back from the beach. |
Why must the family walk to the capital? | Kino's canoe is ruined. |
Why is Coyotito mistaken for an animal and killed? | He cries out. |