Tangerine Comprehension Questions

Quiz Schedule Quiz on pages 1-61 Quiz on pages 61-116 Final Assessment

Out of Focus Why do you think the author included the Out of Focus section at the beginning of the book? Prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one.

What do you think Paul means? On page four Paul’s mom says, “You know you can’t see very well.” We can read his thoughts saying, “But I can see. I can see everything. I see things Mom and Dad can’t. or won’t.” Mom and dad do not see how phony Erik is, and that he is truly a cruel and unkind person.

What is a muck fire? A fire that constantly burns underground because of the lightening striking the lignite.

Why is Mom upset at the fireman? He was late and he could not do anything about the muck fire. What does this tell you about her personality? She is impatient and likes to be in control of situations. She does not tolerate disorganization very well. Think about how Paul describes the move like a military operation.

What is the Erik Fisher Football Dream? Dad and Erik’s dream of Erik getting a football scholarship and becoming a famous football player. What position does Erik play? Kicker

What inference can you make as to why is Dad so eager to help Erik with football? Erik is good enough to be noticed and get a college scholarship, and Dad always regretted not playing football in college. He is sort of living vicariously through Erik. That is the Erik Fisher Football Dream. Whose older brother gets all the attention from his parent? Paul

How does Paul feel about his brother Erik? He seems resentful of his parents attention to Erik’s football career. He does not think Erik is a kind person and refers to him as “phony”

Why Paul’s vision impaired? Erik told him that he looked at an eclipse unprotected.

What was the former home of the Fisher family? Houston

What is a koi? A Japanese carp that looks like a giant goldfish.

What is an osprey? A bird of prey

Why is it important to Mrs. Fisher that they live in a nice house? It is important to Mrs. Fisher that her house looks nice because she never lived in a nice house when she was growing up.

What is Paul’s reasoning for the Donnelly house getting struck by lighting so often? Before they plowed over all the Tangerine grove, the spot where that house was built was the highest, and the lightning keeps striking in that same spot even though the highest tree is no longer there. Nature is just doing what comes natural, and humans have little control over manipulating nature.

Why does Paul wear goggles? He wears them instead of his glasses when he plays soccer because they are practically indestructible.

What do you think of the way Erik and Arthur acted after Mike’s death? They are not a very nice people. Both are very shallow and self absorbed. Erik does not care about anything, even death, that does not have to do with him.

What can you tell about Arthur from that scene? He is a follower and just repeats everything Erik says.

Why does Mrs. Fisher want to hold a meeting about football practice? She want to change the time that the football team practices because of Mike Costello getting struck by lightning and dying.

What is Mrs. Fisher’s argument?

What is Coach Warner’s argument?

Whose argument do you think is stronger? Why?

What do the kids on the Lake Windsor Downs Middle School soccer team call Paul? Mars

Why does Paul get kicked off the LWMS soccer team? He gets kicked off the team because he has an IEP, and the insurance that covers the team will not cover a handicapped student.

What happens to the portables at Lake Windsor Middle School? They are engulfed by a sinkhole. How did Paul and Joey act during the sinkhole disaster? Like heroes

What caused the sinkhole to go unnoticed? Charley Burns was not getting the land inspected before developers built on it. Why? He was being bribed with racing tickets and football skyboxes.

What are the two choices for LWMS seventh grade students? A split schedule at LWMS Transfer to Tangerine Middle School

How does Paul convince his mother to let him attend TMS? He appeals to her emotions by telling her that she ruined his life at LWMS by filling out the IEP, and now she can make it up to him by letting him attend TMS without an IEP.

Why does he want to go to TMS? He want to play soccer, and he cannot play at LWMS. Maybe he has a chance to play for a school if he transfers to a different school.

What do you think of the TMS soccer team? They are serious about soccer and play well as a team. They think of their teammates as family and support each other on and off the field. How are they different from the Lake Windsor Middle soccer team? Boys and girls play

What is the Erik Fisher Football Dream? The Erik Fisher Football Dream is Mr. Fisher’s dream for Erik to be a famous place kicker in college and get a scholarship. Remember that he is so into Erik’s football career because he regrets not having played football while he was in college.

What is Paul’s nickname at Tangerine Middle School? Fisherman What is it at Lake Windsor Middle? Mars

Who starts a fight with Joey about a comment he made about Luis? Tino What does this tell you about the Cruz family? They are very close and have deep respect for each other. What did Luis invent? The Golden Dawn Tangerine

How are Paul and Luis similar? Both are handicapped in someway, both love the way tangerines smell, and both have played goalie position on a soccer team. How did Luis become handicapped? Fell out of a tree cutting Tangerines They are also both very kind and generous to others.

Who pulls the ball away from Erik in a game causing him to land on his back? Antoine Thomas Who is Antoine’s sister? Shandra Thomas

Who works on a school project with Paul, Tino, and Theresa? Henry D

Why are some houses covered with blue tents? They have termites. What is happening to the houses? They are being robbed

Main Characters Paul – Main character; narrator; Eric’s brother; soccer player, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher’s son Erik – “Part of the Erik Fisher Football Dream;”Football player; Paul’s brother; place-kicker Mr. Fisher & Mrs. Fisher – Paul and Erik’s mom and dad Mike Costello –Died from the lightening on the Football field

Main Characters Arthur – another football player; Erik’s friend; drives a Land Cruiser; made fun of Mike with Erik Mr. Walski – 8th grade teacher; coached the LWMS soccer team Joey – Mike Costello’s little brother Coach Warner – Football Coach of the Seagulls –Lake Windsor High; met with Mrs. Fisher to discuss practice times

Main Characters Victor – Captain of the TMS War Eagles Theresa Cruz – Guides Paul on his first day at TMS Hernando – Student; soccer player at TMS Shandra Thomas – the starting goalie on TMS’s soccer team Betty Bright – the TMS soccer coach

Characters Tino – Theresa’s brother; he is on the TMS soccer team

Why do some of the houses have blue tents over them?