I said our name to myself, opening my mouth wide for the organ blast of the a, trilling my tongue for the drumroll of the r, All-vah-rrr-es!
—“Names/Nombres,”
Julia Alvarez
Identify the influence Alvarez writes about in the passage. Provide an answer by using the drop-down menu to complete this sentence.
In this excerpt, Julia is influenced by
.
the power of the Spanish language
In this excerpt, Julia Alvarez is influenced by certain sounds and rhythms that evoke the pronunciation of a particular name.
A. music and sound
“Back home, my tíos and tías, and primas, Mami and Papi, and mis hermanas had a party for me with sancocho and a store-bought pudín, inscribed with Happy Graduation, Julie.” —“Names/Nombres,” Julia Alvarez Which inference would this passage best support? The people at the store do not share Julia’s heritage. Julia is very upset about her party. Julia’s family does not speak Spanish. Pudín is not a Dominican dessert.
The inference that this passage would best support is: Pudín is not a Dominican dessert.
I got several wallets and a suitcase with my initials and a graduation charm from my godmother and money from my uncles. The biggest gift was a portable typewriter from my parents for writing my stories and poems.
Someday, the family predicted, my name would be well-known throughout the United States. I laughed to myself, wondering which one I would go by.
—“Names/Nombres,”
Julia Alvarez
Based on this passage, which inference could you make about how Julia’s family influences her?
They want Julia to become a serious student.
They pressure Julia to be rich and famous.
They encourage Julia’s writing talent.
They make her choose a name.
Based on this passage, the inference that could be made about how Julia's family influences her is: They encourage Julia's writing talent.
got several wallets and a suitcase with my initials and a graduation charm from my godmother and money from my uncles. The biggest gift was a portable typewriter from my parents for writing my stories and poems. Someday, the family predicted, my name would be well-known throughout the United States. I laughed to myself, wondering which one I would go by. —“Names/Nombres,” Julia Alvarez Based on the passage, which inference could you make about how Julia’s many names influence her? Her many names confuse her. Her many names embarrass her. Her many names anger her. Her many names amuse her.
Based on the passage, the inference that could be made about how Julia's many names influence her is: Her many names amuse her.
"I got several wallets and a suitcase with my initials and a graduation charm from my godmother and money from my uncles. The biggest gift was a portable typewriter from my parents for writing my stories and poems.
Someday, the family predicted, my name would be well-known throughout the United States. I laughed to myself, wondering which one I would go by."
—“Names/Nombres,”
Julia Alvarez
Use the drop-down menu to indicate which evidence from the passage best supports the inference that Julia is amused by her many names.
The evidence from the passage that best supports the inference that Julia is amused by her many names is: "I laughed to myself, wondering which one I would go by."
Read the passage from "Names/Nombres" by Julia Alvarez.
When we arrived in New York City, our names changed almost immediately.
At Immigration, the officer asked my father, Mister Elbures, if he had anything to declare. My father shook his head no, and we were waved through.
I was too afraid we wouldn't be let in if l corrected the man's pronunciation, but I said our name to myself, opening my mouth wide for the organ blast of the a, trilling my tongue for the drumroll of the r, All-vah-rrr-es! How could anyone get Elbures out of that orchestra of sound?
At the hotel my mother was Missus Alburest, and I was little girl, as in, "Hey, little girl, stop riding the elevator up and down. It's not a toy."
Which theme is conveyed in this passage?
The Alvarez family struggles to find their new identity in the United States.
The members of the Alvarez family need to change their names to fit in.
All of the members of the family find new identities by taking on new names.
The Alvarez name represents the family’s foreignness in their new country.
The theme conveyed in this passage is: The Alvarez family struggles to find their new identity in the United States.
Read the passage from "Names/Nombres" by Julia Alvarez.
When we moved into our new apartment building, the super called my father Mister Alberase, and the neighbors who became mother's friends pronounced her name Jewlee-ah instead of Hoo-lee-ah. I, her namesake, was known as Hoo-lee-tah at home. But at school I was Judy or Judith, and once an English teacher mistook me for Juliet.
Based on this passage, what inference can be made about the English teacher?
She did not pay attention to Julia’s real name.
She is also an immigrant who is new to the country.
She did not like Julia very much.
She wanted to help Julia fit in with the class.