TEXT 6 Dear Mama Tupac Shakur 1 You are appreciated When I was young, me and my mama had beef 17 years old, kicked out on the streets Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face 5 Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place Suspended from school And scared to go home, I was a fool With the big boys breaking all the rules I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years 10 We was poorer than the other little kids And even though we had different daddies, the same drama When things went wrong we'd blame mama I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell 15 And who'd think in elementary, hey I'd see the penitentiary one day? And running from the police, that's right Mama catch me, put a whoopin' to my backside And even as a crack fiend, mama 20 You always was a black queen, mama I finally understand For a woman it ain't easy trying to raise a man You always was committed A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it 25 There's no way I can pay you back, but the plan Lady, don't you know we love ya? (Dear Mama) Sweet lady, place no one above ya (You are appreciated) Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya? 30 Now, ain't nobody tell us it was fair No love from my daddy, 'cause the coward wasn't there He passed away and I didn't cry, 'cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along 35 I was looking for a father he was gone I hung around with the thugs And even though they sold drugs
They showed a young brother love I moved out and started really hangin' 40 I needed money of my own, so I started slangin' I ain't guilty, 'cause even though I sell rocks It feels good putting money in your mailbox I love paying rent when the rent is due I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to you 45 'Cause when I was low you was there for me And never left me alone, because you cared for me And I could see you coming home after work late You're in the kitchen, trying to fix us a hot plate You just working with the scraps you was given 50 And Mama made miracles every Thanksgivin' But now the road got rough, you're alone You're trying to raise two bad kids on your own And there's no way I can pay you back, but my plan 55 Lady, don't you know we love ya? (Dear Mama) Sweet lady, place no one above ya (You are appreciated) Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya? Pour out some liquor and I reminisce 'Cause through the drama I can always depend on my mama 60 And when it seems that I'm hopeless You say the words that can get me back in focus When I was sick as a little kid To keep me happy, there's no limit to the things you did And all my childhood memories 65 Are full of all the sweet things you did for me And even though I act crazy I gotta thank the Lord that you made me There are no words that can express how I feel You never kept a secret, always stayed real 70 And I appreciate how you raised me And all the extra love that you gave me I wish I could take the pain away If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day Everything will be alright if you hold on 75 It's a struggle everyday, gotta roll on And there's no way I can pay you back, but my plan
1. Which quote from the selection supports the central idea? a. I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years, We was poorer than the other little kids. b. And even though they sold drugs, They showed a young brother love c. You always was committed, A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it. d. Suspended from school, And scared to go home, I was a fool. 2. How is the main character in this selection affected by the setting? a. He felt he had to get love from the thugs on the street b. It made him feel anger towards his mother and sister c. He refused to sell drugs in order to make his mother proud d. He wanted to get away from where he grew up 3. What can be inferred from line 12? a. The speaker s heart is cheerful b. The speaker s heart is remorseful c. The speaker s heart is amused. d. The speaker s heart is numb 4. In lines 19-22, how does Tupac s choice of words impact the meaning of the poem? a. The words tell how his father feels about his mother. b. The words show Tupac s sarcasm toward his mother. c. The words explain how the speaker views himself. d. The words emphasize how he respects his mother. 5. How does the use of descriptive language affect the reader? a. The reader will not be informed about living in poverty in the inner city. b. The reader will tell stories of living in poverty in the city. c. The reader will want to go to the inner city. d. The reader can visualize living in poverty in the inner city. 6. In line 32 & 33, what does the phrase He passed away and I didn't cry, 'cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger tell the reader? a. He didn t know his father because he wasn t around, so when he passed, all he felt was anger b. He was a stranger to his father. c. His father was a very angry person. d. He was glad his father passed away. 7. In line 77, what does the phrase pay back suggest he wanted to do? a. He wanted to seek revenge on his father. b. He wanted to reward his mother for being there. c. He wanted to take his anger out on his mother. d. He wanted to pay back the thugs he borrowed money from.
TEXT 7 Elena By Pat Mora 1 My Spanish isn t good enough. I remember how I d smile listening to my little ones, understanding every word they d say, 5 their jokes, their songs, their plots, Vamos a pedirle dulces a mamá. Vamos. But that was in Mexico. Now my children go to American high schools. They speak English. At night they sit around 10 the kitchen table, laugh with one another. I stand by the stove, feel dumb, alone. I bought a book to learn English. My husband frowned, drank beer. My oldest said, Mamá, he doesn t want you 15 to be smarter than he is. I m forty, embarrassed mispronouncing words, embarrassed at the laughter of my children, the grocer, the mailman. Sometimes I take My English book and lock myself in the bathroom, 20 say the thick words softly, for if I stop trying, I will be deaf when my children need my help. 8. What is the meaning of the phrase My Spanish isn t good enough in line 1? a. The narrator is not a very strong Spanish-speaker. b. The narrator is beginning to forget her native language. c. The narrator s unsure of her pronunciations. d. The narrator s native language is no longer spoken by her family. 9. Based on line 5, what is the meaning of the word plots? a. troubles b. poems c. plans d. lies
10. What is the impact of line 7 on the poem? a. It shows a shift between the narrator s past life and present life. b. It shows that the narrator thought that Mexico was a better country for her children. c. It shows that the narrator regrets moving to a new country. d. It shows that her children changed drastically after moving. 11. How does the dialogue in lines 14-15 affect the poem? a. It motivates the narrator to prove her husband wrong. b. It angers the narrator to not have support from her family. c. It demonstrates the narrator s child s understanding of the situation. d. It emphasizes the narrator s inability to communicate with her family. 12. What is the impact of the repetition of the word embarrassed in the poem? a. It emphasizes the narrator s frustrations with learning the language. b. It creates tension between the narrator and her family. c. It shows that the narrator is considering giving up on learning the language. d. It provides a contrast to how the narrator felt in Mexico. 13. In line 20, what does the phrase say the thick words softly tell the reader? a. The narrator does not want other people to hear her practicing. b. The narrator finds the words difficult to speak and pronounce. c. The narrator is pushing herself to say challenging words. d. The narrator is fearful her husband will be upset with her. 14. Which quote supports the theme of the poem? a. I stand by the stove, feel dumb, alone. b. Mama, he doesn t want you to be smarter than he is. c. My Spanish isn t good enough. d. For if I stop trying, I will be deaf when my children need my help.