Breaking Through - A Memoir by Professor Francisco Jimenez
Forced Out
(an image of la migra)
Read each question and answer in complete sentences. Paraphrase your answer but use key words from the text. (Print this and handwrite your answers or open a Word document and, switching between windows, type your answers.)
1. Where was Francisco Born? Open these maps of Mexico and California to trace the family's route. Click the back arrow at the upper left of the page to return.
2. What circumstances led the family to leave Mexico? Describe how they left Mexico and then got to their destination in California?
3. Once in California, what was Francisco afraid of? Did his fear ever become reality?
4. Why did Francisco dread being deported?
5. Describe the family's living conditions. Have you or anyone you know ever experienced living this way? Whether your answer is YES or NO, explain why.
6. How did Francisco and Roberto feel when la migra (the INS) finally caught up with them? Write down a few details that show physical and emotional reactions.
7. How did la migra know about Francisco's and Roberto's undocumented status? Based on the officer's statement and behavior, how would you characterize his attitude toward them? What might you conclude about this person?
8. When you encounter Spanish words, the meaning is clear from English words that appear before or after the Spanish term. Find the translations or context clues that explain the following:
La migra - (p. 1)______________________
Nos agararron, hermanito -(p. 4) _________________________
Carachita - (p. 7) _________________________
Viejo (p. 8) is Mama's term of endearment for _____________.
nopales - (p. 9) _____________________
es rona - (p. 12)_______________________
Que verguenza - (p. 13) ______________________
9. On pages 8 and 9, Mama and Papa see images in the nopales. List the images they see. Explain how these images reflect the experience they are having at the time.
10. In the cheap, rundown motel, Francisco does something that bothers his conscience. What does he do and why does it bother him? Write three words that show how he feels afterwards. (p. 10)
11. A common expression is, "All that glitters is not gold." On page 15 underline an expression with a similar meaning. What does it refer to?
12. Describe your own reaction to the family's being forced out? What other option did the family have and why? Explain why they didn't take this other option.
13. After their petition for visas was granted, what did Papa decide the family should do? What was his rationale for this decision?