Sandra Street
Interpretive Questions
1.) At the end of the story, why does Mr. Blades say, “To think that you instead Kenneth should belong to Sandra Street”? (p. 140)
At the end of the story, Mr. Blades says “To think that you instead Kenneth should belong to Sandra Street”? (p. 140) because Kenneth had written about all the things in Sandra Street and that it was "soppy", however Steve wrote only about the steel bands. Mr. Blades thinks that Steve is overlooking all the beautiful things in the forest of Sandra Street.
2.) Why does Mr. Blades have the students write compositions about Sandra Street?
Mr. Blades had the students write compositions about Sandra Street because he was delighted to read them and criticize them so he could praise the good ones. "Mr. Blades was always anxious to judge what we wrote..." (p.134)
3.) Why does Mr. Blades say that if “any boy wrote anything about Sandra Street he would have to prove it”? (p. 134)
Mr. Blades says that if “any boy wrote anything about Sandra Street he would have to prove it”? (p. 134) because there may be mean things the children will say about it because it's not as great as their street. Mr. Blades is saying that he wants it to be true, you can't just say it because you think you're better.
4.) Why does Mr. Blades say, “There is something like observation, Steve,… Observation”? (p. 136)
Mr. Blades says, “There is something like observation, Steve,… Observation”? (p. 136) because in Steve's paper, he only wrote about steel bands, but he wants Steve to be able to realize all the beautiful things around him, like the forest and the flowers.
5.) Why isn’t Mr. Blades “even watching,” but instead “gazing across the trees” at the end of the story? (p. 140)
Mr. Blades isn't “even watching,” but instead “gazing across the trees” at the end of the story? (p. 140) because he is basking in the beauty of Sandra Street from their view.
6.) Why does Steve invite Mr. Blades to the hills above Sandra Street?
Steve invites Mr. Blades to the hills above Sandra Street because he wants to show him everything he has observed that he tried to explain in his papers through his own words. "I felt that part of the enchantment came from Mr. Blades being with me." (p.140)
7.) Why does Steve’s heart suddenly leap as he looks out the window with Mr. Blades?
Steve's heart suddenly leaps as he looks out the window with Mr. Blades because he was about to tell him about the things he did observe in the forests. "Suddenly my heart leapt and I turned to Mr. Blades..." (p.135)
8.) When Mr. Blades points at the mango blossoms, why does Steve feel like crying out: “I wanted to show it to you”? (p. 136)
When Mr. Blades points at the mango blossoms Steve feels like crying out, “I wanted to show it to you”? (p. 136) because he brought him up here to show him that in the first place.
9.) Why does Steve wish Mr. Blades would come to the window again so he “could tell him what lay among the mango trees in the hills”? (p. 137)
Steve wishes that Mr. Blades would come to the window again so he “could tell him what lay among the mango trees in the hills”? (p. 137) because he wanted to tell him about when he went hiking and what he had found. (The immortelle roots)
10.) Why is Steve puzzled by Mr. Blades’ reaction at the end of the story?
Steve is puzzled by Mr. Blades reaction at the end of the story because he thought Mr. Blades would be proud of him for his new discovery, not mad for not observing the plants. "I was puzzled. I thought it was for the bananas that we had come to the hills." (p.140)
At the end of the story, Mr. Blades says “To think that you instead Kenneth should belong to Sandra Street”? (p. 140) because Kenneth had written about all the things in Sandra Street and that it was "soppy", however Steve wrote only about the steel bands. Mr. Blades thinks that Steve is overlooking all the beautiful things in the forest of Sandra Street.
2.) Why does Mr. Blades have the students write compositions about Sandra Street?
Mr. Blades had the students write compositions about Sandra Street because he was delighted to read them and criticize them so he could praise the good ones. "Mr. Blades was always anxious to judge what we wrote..." (p.134)
3.) Why does Mr. Blades say that if “any boy wrote anything about Sandra Street he would have to prove it”? (p. 134)
Mr. Blades says that if “any boy wrote anything about Sandra Street he would have to prove it”? (p. 134) because there may be mean things the children will say about it because it's not as great as their street. Mr. Blades is saying that he wants it to be true, you can't just say it because you think you're better.
4.) Why does Mr. Blades say, “There is something like observation, Steve,… Observation”? (p. 136)
Mr. Blades says, “There is something like observation, Steve,… Observation”? (p. 136) because in Steve's paper, he only wrote about steel bands, but he wants Steve to be able to realize all the beautiful things around him, like the forest and the flowers.
5.) Why isn’t Mr. Blades “even watching,” but instead “gazing across the trees” at the end of the story? (p. 140)
Mr. Blades isn't “even watching,” but instead “gazing across the trees” at the end of the story? (p. 140) because he is basking in the beauty of Sandra Street from their view.
6.) Why does Steve invite Mr. Blades to the hills above Sandra Street?
Steve invites Mr. Blades to the hills above Sandra Street because he wants to show him everything he has observed that he tried to explain in his papers through his own words. "I felt that part of the enchantment came from Mr. Blades being with me." (p.140)
7.) Why does Steve’s heart suddenly leap as he looks out the window with Mr. Blades?
Steve's heart suddenly leaps as he looks out the window with Mr. Blades because he was about to tell him about the things he did observe in the forests. "Suddenly my heart leapt and I turned to Mr. Blades..." (p.135)
8.) When Mr. Blades points at the mango blossoms, why does Steve feel like crying out: “I wanted to show it to you”? (p. 136)
When Mr. Blades points at the mango blossoms Steve feels like crying out, “I wanted to show it to you”? (p. 136) because he brought him up here to show him that in the first place.
9.) Why does Steve wish Mr. Blades would come to the window again so he “could tell him what lay among the mango trees in the hills”? (p. 137)
Steve wishes that Mr. Blades would come to the window again so he “could tell him what lay among the mango trees in the hills”? (p. 137) because he wanted to tell him about when he went hiking and what he had found. (The immortelle roots)
10.) Why is Steve puzzled by Mr. Blades’ reaction at the end of the story?
Steve is puzzled by Mr. Blades reaction at the end of the story because he thought Mr. Blades would be proud of him for his new discovery, not mad for not observing the plants. "I was puzzled. I thought it was for the bananas that we had come to the hills." (p.140)
Vocabulary
1.) Appease (p. 132)
Quote: "...I felt he was trying to appease us..." (p.132)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to fill a yearning
Synonym: please satisfy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher tried to appease us with an "exciting" assignment.
2.) Aspects (p. 132)
Quote: "...they showed up new aspects of the beauty..." (p.132)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): different pieces of something
Synonym: parts, features
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Our "Life is Like..." assignment taught us new aspects of life.
3.) Profusion (p. 133)
Quote: "...stood away from the profusion of the houses." (p.133)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a large amount of something
Synonym: surplus, abundance
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student sighed at the profusion of Fs on their report card.
4.) Sombre (p. 135)
Quote: "The houses stood there tall and rather sombre-looking..." (p.135)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something with a dark color
Synonym: dark, gloomy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The mornings at school are rather sombre-looking during winter.
5.) Gaudy (p. 137)
Quote: "What's he got to write on—gaudy houses..." (p.137)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): things that act showy
Synonym: extravagant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The ten carrot diamond ring looked gaudy on her finger.
6.) Exultantly (p. 137)
Quote: "...exultantly I wondered how many people observed this..." (p.137)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): being very happy
Synonym: exuberance
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher exultantly scolded the student.
7.) Cumbersomely (p. 138)
Quote: "When the wind blew they moved slowly and cumbersomely..." (p.138)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something that is large and hard to carry or use.
Synonym: awkward
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student cumbersomely carried their many projects to the other class.
Quote: "...I felt he was trying to appease us..." (p.132)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to fill a yearning
Synonym: please satisfy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher tried to appease us with an "exciting" assignment.
2.) Aspects (p. 132)
Quote: "...they showed up new aspects of the beauty..." (p.132)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): different pieces of something
Synonym: parts, features
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Our "Life is Like..." assignment taught us new aspects of life.
3.) Profusion (p. 133)
Quote: "...stood away from the profusion of the houses." (p.133)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a large amount of something
Synonym: surplus, abundance
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student sighed at the profusion of Fs on their report card.
4.) Sombre (p. 135)
Quote: "The houses stood there tall and rather sombre-looking..." (p.135)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something with a dark color
Synonym: dark, gloomy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The mornings at school are rather sombre-looking during winter.
5.) Gaudy (p. 137)
Quote: "What's he got to write on—gaudy houses..." (p.137)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): things that act showy
Synonym: extravagant
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The ten carrot diamond ring looked gaudy on her finger.
6.) Exultantly (p. 137)
Quote: "...exultantly I wondered how many people observed this..." (p.137)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): being very happy
Synonym: exuberance
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher exultantly scolded the student.
7.) Cumbersomely (p. 138)
Quote: "When the wind blew they moved slowly and cumbersomely..." (p.138)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something that is large and hard to carry or use.
Synonym: awkward
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student cumbersomely carried their many projects to the other class.