Unit 2: Lesson 9 “Dear Mr. Winston” Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott 1

Turn your Text Book to page 260. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

1 2 3

What are some ways that you can apologize for something other than writing a letter? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: Send a card Buy a gift Send flowers Give a hug Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Why do you think Cara keeps saying her parents blame her or are making her apologize? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: She doesn’t want to admit that it was her fault; she’s not really sorry. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

How does Cara try to convince Mr How does Cara try to convince Mr. Winston that she had a good reason for bringing the snake into the library? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: She says she was trying to find out what kind of snake it was by comparing the real snake with snake pictures. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

4 5 6

Why might there be a rule that reference books cannot be removed from the library, “even for ten minutes”? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: They have to be available for anyone who needs them. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

How does Cara’s tone in the third paragraph differ from the first paragraph? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: In the first paragraph, she is still shifting blame to Mr. Winston. In the third paragraph, she is saying something that sounds friendly or helpful. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Why do you think the author chose to mention that the snake is still loose at this point in the letter, instead of at the beginning? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: To entertain the readers, to keep things interesting, and to move the plot forward. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

7 8 9

What evidence does Cara provide that the snake was not dangerous? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: The book showed that it was not a type of deadly snake. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Who is Cara trying to persuade and why? Is she convincing? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: Her father, because she knows he will read the letter and will decide her punishment. No, because she doesn’t accept any blame for what happened. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Why does Cara mention that Jake Lambert sold her the snake? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

She hopes to shift some of the blame somewhere else. Answer: She hopes to shift some of the blame somewhere else. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

10 11 12

Describe the sequence of events from the time Cara brings the box into the library until Mr. Winston faints. Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: Cara brings a box into the library. Mr. Winston insists on looking in the box. He picks up the box, opens it, screams, and faints. Then the snake slithers out. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

How is Cara’s tone on this page different from her tone on pp. 228-229? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answer: Earlier she said she was truly sorry, but kept blaming Mr. Winston for what happened. Here she mentions things she knows will upset Mr. Winston. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

From what Cara suggests about efforts to find the snake, what is true about snakes most of the time? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

They are difficult to find; they can hide in unusual places. Answer: They are difficult to find; they can hide in unusual places. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

13

Sometimes authors will repeat words or use repetitions, if they want the reader to pay close attention to those words. Do you believe Cara when she repeatedly says, “ I am genuinely sorry”? Why or why not? Answer Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Answers: No, her letter seems to be insincere. She is still inquiring about the snake and doesn’t seem to care much about Mr. Winston’s feelings. Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott

How did you do? Copyright © 2011 Kelly Mott