Mercedes Kane
Interpretive Questions
1.) Why does Mercedes insist she’s not Mercedes Kane, the child prodigy?
She says this because she doesn't want to be known as a genius, she wants to be a regular person. Also she may not be Mercedes Kane. " 'You spoke eight languages. You even made a language up.' 'No.' Mercedes frowned. 'Someone else.'" (p.119)
2.) Why does Mercedes tell the story about her father saying that Edith was a pretty girl?
Mercedes tells this story about her father because she wants to say how he father did not think of her as pretty. " 'Now, there's a pretty girl,'..." (p.125)
3.) Why does Mercedes look “terrified” when Ruthie says, “We all know you’re a genius”? (p. 126)
Mercedes looks terrified when Ruthie says “We all know you’re a genius”? (p. 126)
because she wants her secret hidden and she doesn't want to ruin her relationship with Ruthie.
4.) Why does Mercedes retype Ruthie’s report?
Mercedes re types the report to reveal her secret and to apologize to Ruthie for indirectly ruining the report. "I found a gift from Mercedes on my desk. It was my report, typed neatly..." (p.127)
5.) Why does Mercedes leave and never return to Ruthie and her mother’s house?
Mercedes may have left because she indirectly said she wrote the report and gave away her secret. "We never heard from her again." (p.127)
6.) Why does Ruthie get so angry at Mercedes for denying who she is?
Ruthie gets mad at Mercedes for denying who she is because pretending to be smart is like pretending to be blind. Ruthie may also be jealous that her mother likes Mercedes more. "I think it's mean pretending you're stupid when you're not. It's like pretending you're blind or crippled just to get out of stuff." (p.126)
7.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother bringing Mercedes home was “an astounding thing to do”? (p. 115)
Ruthie says bring Mercedes home was “an astounding thing to do”? (p. 115)
because the mom is clean and pure and Mercedes is a smoker, dirty, and it may not even be Mercedes Kane.
8.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother loves her with a “careful affection: regimented, proper”? (p. 121)
Ruthie says that her mother with a “careful affection: regimented, proper”? (p. 121) because it shows that her mother will show affection when she feels she has to.
9.) Why does Ruthie do a “cruel impression” of Mercedes by saying “Mmm,…That’s a lie”? (p. 127)
Ruthie does a "cruel impression" of Mercedes by saying “Mmm,…That’s a lie”? (p. 127) because this happened right after the argument and she may be mocking Mercedes. She does this because she tries to play stupid like Mercedes.
10.) Why does Ruthie cry when she replays the conversation between herself and Mercedes?
Ruthie cries when she replays the conversation between Mercedes and herself because she felt bad for saying the things she said. She felt bad because she might have hurt her feelings and caused her to leave. Also her mother may become angry with her. "But I knew which one of us was guiltiest." (p.127)
She says this because she doesn't want to be known as a genius, she wants to be a regular person. Also she may not be Mercedes Kane. " 'You spoke eight languages. You even made a language up.' 'No.' Mercedes frowned. 'Someone else.'" (p.119)
2.) Why does Mercedes tell the story about her father saying that Edith was a pretty girl?
Mercedes tells this story about her father because she wants to say how he father did not think of her as pretty. " 'Now, there's a pretty girl,'..." (p.125)
3.) Why does Mercedes look “terrified” when Ruthie says, “We all know you’re a genius”? (p. 126)
Mercedes looks terrified when Ruthie says “We all know you’re a genius”? (p. 126)
because she wants her secret hidden and she doesn't want to ruin her relationship with Ruthie.
4.) Why does Mercedes retype Ruthie’s report?
Mercedes re types the report to reveal her secret and to apologize to Ruthie for indirectly ruining the report. "I found a gift from Mercedes on my desk. It was my report, typed neatly..." (p.127)
5.) Why does Mercedes leave and never return to Ruthie and her mother’s house?
Mercedes may have left because she indirectly said she wrote the report and gave away her secret. "We never heard from her again." (p.127)
6.) Why does Ruthie get so angry at Mercedes for denying who she is?
Ruthie gets mad at Mercedes for denying who she is because pretending to be smart is like pretending to be blind. Ruthie may also be jealous that her mother likes Mercedes more. "I think it's mean pretending you're stupid when you're not. It's like pretending you're blind or crippled just to get out of stuff." (p.126)
7.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother bringing Mercedes home was “an astounding thing to do”? (p. 115)
Ruthie says bring Mercedes home was “an astounding thing to do”? (p. 115)
because the mom is clean and pure and Mercedes is a smoker, dirty, and it may not even be Mercedes Kane.
8.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother loves her with a “careful affection: regimented, proper”? (p. 121)
Ruthie says that her mother with a “careful affection: regimented, proper”? (p. 121) because it shows that her mother will show affection when she feels she has to.
9.) Why does Ruthie do a “cruel impression” of Mercedes by saying “Mmm,…That’s a lie”? (p. 127)
Ruthie does a "cruel impression" of Mercedes by saying “Mmm,…That’s a lie”? (p. 127) because this happened right after the argument and she may be mocking Mercedes. She does this because she tries to play stupid like Mercedes.
10.) Why does Ruthie cry when she replays the conversation between herself and Mercedes?
Ruthie cries when she replays the conversation between Mercedes and herself because she felt bad for saying the things she said. She felt bad because she might have hurt her feelings and caused her to leave. Also her mother may become angry with her. "But I knew which one of us was guiltiest." (p.127)
Vocabulary
1.) Prodigies (p. 113)
Quote: "...my mother read books about child prodigies and got jealous." (p.113)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): naturally born with an amazing talent
Synonym: amazing, good
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): One of many child prodigies was Michael Jackson.
2.) Antagonistically (p. 115)
Quote: "...she was unfailingly, antagonistically pleasant." (p.115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): active opposition
Synonym: disagreeing, conflicting
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student antagonistically started the test.
3.) Impetuous (p. 121)
Quote: "...my mother wasn't impetuous about anything..." (p.121)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): done quickly without worries
Synonym: effortlessly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher was impetuous as she sorted through the papers.
4.) Dubious (p. 123)
Quote: "Mercedes sounded dubious." (p.123)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): doing something hesitantly
Synonym: hesitant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher was dubious of allowing the students free time.
5.) Ambitious (p. 124)
Quote: "He was too far away from reality to be ambitious." (p.124)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be passionate or excited for something
Synonym: passionate, excited, desiring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy was ambitions to see his grade on the test.
6.) Silhouette (p. 127)
Quote: "...we spotted a small silhouette or a wisp of smoke..." (p.127)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): an outline or shaded figure.
Synonym: outline
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There was only a silhouette to show for the criminals sketch.
Quote: "...my mother read books about child prodigies and got jealous." (p.113)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): naturally born with an amazing talent
Synonym: amazing, good
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): One of many child prodigies was Michael Jackson.
2.) Antagonistically (p. 115)
Quote: "...she was unfailingly, antagonistically pleasant." (p.115)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): active opposition
Synonym: disagreeing, conflicting
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student antagonistically started the test.
3.) Impetuous (p. 121)
Quote: "...my mother wasn't impetuous about anything..." (p.121)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): done quickly without worries
Synonym: effortlessly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher was impetuous as she sorted through the papers.
4.) Dubious (p. 123)
Quote: "Mercedes sounded dubious." (p.123)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): doing something hesitantly
Synonym: hesitant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher was dubious of allowing the students free time.
5.) Ambitious (p. 124)
Quote: "He was too far away from reality to be ambitious." (p.124)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be passionate or excited for something
Synonym: passionate, excited, desiring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy was ambitions to see his grade on the test.
6.) Silhouette (p. 127)
Quote: "...we spotted a small silhouette or a wisp of smoke..." (p.127)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): an outline or shaded figure.
Synonym: outline
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There was only a silhouette to show for the criminals sketch.