“An Hour with Abuelo” by Judith Ortiz Cofer Quiz and Close Reading Bundle

Item description

“An Hour with Abuelo” by Judith Ortiz Cofer is a coming-of-age short story involving an intelligent teenager whose youthful determination and stubbornness keep him from learning an important lesson about controlling one’s destiny—that is, until an hour-long meeting with his grandfather. This bundle of assessments helps English teachers evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of close reading skills, and promote homework accountability. The brevity of the narrative also helps fill awkward gaps in teaching schedules. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 

By completing the plot-based quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• A reason Arturo is reluctant to visit Abuelo
• What Abuelo is doing when Arturo enters his suite
• Abuelo’s life during World War II
• Abuelo’s various jobs
• Why Abuelo chose his final job
• Mother’s feelings about Abuelo’s final career change
• Arturo’s youthful determination
• Abuelo’s love of literature
• The end of Arturo’s meeting with Abuelo
• The reason Arturo laughs in the resolution

By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Determine the function of the opening paragraph
• Discern the greater significance of a given excerpt
• Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
• Compare and contrast two characters (Arturo and Abuelo)
• Explore how the first-person narration affects the readers’ perception of Arturo’s mother
• Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, euphemism, verbal irony, and more
• Explore theme
• Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
• Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
• Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials

Materials are available for teaching a variety of texts such as:

• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
• Feed by M.T. Anderson
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
• The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare