1. The Trip by Laila Lalami
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Skills Focus: Foreshadowing
Reading Skills Focus: Visualizing
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
TechFocus

2. The Trip by Laila Lalami
Why are dangerous journeys sometimes necessary?

3. The Trip by Laila Lalami
Click on the title to start the video.

4. The Trip Introducing the Story
You’re just a few miles from the border.
On the other side waits a better life: money, opportunities, freedom.
But those few miles hold many dangers.
What would you risk to make it to the other side?
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5. The Trip Literary Skills Focus: Foreshadowing
Writers give readers a glimpse of future events when they use foreshadowing—hints or clues that suggest what will happen later in the plot.
When you spot a possible clue about a future event, you want to keep reading to see what happens and what the clue means.

6. The Trip Literary Skills Focus: Foreshadowing
The stragglers cautiously proceeded across the bridge. They gripped the ragged railings, tentatively stepping along the slippery rope while the river swirled menacingly below them.
The stragglers cautiously proceeded across the bridge. They gripped the ragged railings, tentatively stepping along the slippery rope while the river swirled menacingly below them.
Which words and phrases provide hints or clues to a future event?
What possible future event is this writer foreshadowing?

7. The Trip Literary Skills Focus: Foreshadowing
In “The Trip,” Laila Lalami uses foreshadowing to create suspense and draw readers into the story.
He looks at the Spanish coastline, closer with every breath. The waves are inky black, except for hints of foam here and there, glistening white under the moon, like tombstones in a dark cemetery.
From "The Trip" from Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami. Copyright 2005 © by Laila Lalami. Reproduced by permission of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a Division of Workman Publishing.
How does the writer foreshadow danger in this excerpt from the story?
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8. The Trip Reading Skills Focus: Visualizing
Writers use precise sensory details to help you form a picture in your head of what is happening.
Picturing the details of a story is called visualizing.
The desert stretched endlessly beneath the hot sun. Jake could see nothing but cracked earth and dead trees. He wondered if he’d ever find water.

9. The Trip Reading Skills Focus: Visualizing
Visualizing can help you keep the order of events straight because you will have a clear picture of each scene.
Often, these details tell you something else as well:
the feelings of the character who perceives them
hints that the situation is about to change

10. The Trip Reading Skills Focus: Visualizing
Listen to this passage from “The Trip.” Try to visualize the characters and setting.
From "The Trip" from Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami. Copyright 2005 © by Laila Lalami. Reproduced by permission of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a Division of Workman Publishing.

11. The Trip Reading Skills Focus: Visualizing
Into Action: As you read “The Trip,” use a chart to record descriptive language that helps you visualize the people and the setting in each scene.
Into Action: Visualization Chart
Scene
Descriptive Language
The boat is approaching the Spanish coastline.
“The waves are inky black, except for hints of foam ”
From "The Trip" from Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami. Copyright 2005 © by Laila Lalami. Reproduced by permission of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a Division of Workman Publishing.
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12. The Trip Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Find It in Your Reading
As you read, look for significant details that may hint at what will happen later in the story.
Write down these possible foreshadowing clues.
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13. The Trip
TechFocus
As you read, think about how a director might use foreshadowing in a filmed version of the story.
How can he or she build suspense without giving away too much information?
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14. Vocabulary

15. The Trip Vocabulary pondered v.: thought over; considered carefully.
destinies n.: what becomes of people or things in the end; fates.
exudes v.: seems to radiate; oozes.
putrid adj.: foul; decaying or rotten.
prospects n.: things expected or looked forward to; outlook for the future.

16. The Trip Vocabulary
Each man pondered his options before making a move in the chess game.
Do people who ponder decisions tend to act on impulse, or do they take their time deciding?

17. The Trip Vocabulary
Maria spent a great deal of time pondering her decision about the new car, showing us that she _________________
knew exactly which car she wanted.
took her friend’s advice without question.
felt unsure about her decision.

18. The Trip Vocabulary
Maria spent a great deal of time pondering her decision about the new car, showing us that she _________________
knew exactly which car she wanted.
took her friend’s advice without question.
felt unsure about her decision.

19. The Trip Vocabulary
Because my sister Janice is a talented keyboard player, our father feels that her destiny is to be a musician.

20. The Trip Vocabulary
Destiny often refers to the course a person’s life takes.
Which of the following physical qualities would most likely belong to a person destined to be a gymnast?
flexible muscles
brown hair
strong fingernails

21. The Trip Vocabulary
Destiny often refers to the course a person’s life takes.
Which of the following physical qualities would most likely belong to a person destined to be a gymnast?
flexible muscles
brown hair
strong fingernails
Name some factors that affect a person’s destiny.

22. The Trip Vocabulary
People tend to exude qualities and moods. Without using words, their bodies radiate clues.
What qualities do these athletes exude?

23. What other qualities might an athlete exude?
The Trip Vocabulary
This athlete exudes confidence.
This athlete exudes a sense of exhaustion.
What other qualities might an athlete exude?

24. What’s your least favorite putrid smell?
The Trip Vocabulary
A putrid smell emanated from the bag of decaying garbage.
What’s your least favorite putrid smell?

25. Which woman has encountered a putrid smell?
The Trip Vocabulary
Which woman has encountered a putrid smell? A. C. B. C.

26. His outlook for the future was bleak.
The Trip Vocabulary
The homeless man had few prospects for getting himself out of his sad situation.
His outlook for the future was bleak.

27. The Trip Vocabulary
Some students take advantage of the prospect of free music lessons by joining the high school band.
In this sentence, prospect refers to
a desirable outcome.
excellent grades.
a type of essay.

28. The Trip Vocabulary
Some students take advantage of the prospect of free music lessons by joining the high school band.
In this sentence, prospect refers to
a desirable outcome.
excellent grades.
a type of essay.
What are some ways for people to improve their career prospects?

29. The End

30. Preview the Selection

31. The Trip Preview the Selection
Murad, the main character, is a young man with a college education who is struggling to find work.
Morocco
Spain
He attempts to leave his native Morocco for a better life in Spain.
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32. Build Background

33. The Trip Build Background
Morocco is separated from Spain by a narrow waterway called the Strait of Gibraltar.
Moroccans and other African people, hoping to make better lives for themselves and their families, cross the strait in large numbers. They often ride in crowded, leaky boats and are led by guides who cheat them or leave them at risk of being caught—or worse.
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34. Meet the Writer

35. The Trip Meet the Writer
Laila Lalami was born in 1968 in Morocco. She was educated in England and California.
As an author and blogger, she became an influential force in the literary scene with her debut novel Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits. Her literary Web site focuses on Arab culture, social and political issues, book reviews, articles, and interviews.
More About the Writer
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36. QuickTalk

37. The Trip QuickTalk With a classmate, discuss a movie
or a television show in which one
character undertakes a dangerous journey.
What compels the character to take the risk?
How does the journey change his or her life?
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38. Read with a Purpose

39. The Trip Read with a Purpose
Read this story to learn about the obstacles some people face when trying to leave their county.
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