“My Favorite Chaperone” by Jean Davies Okimoto
During Reading Questions
Directions: While reading the short story “My Favorite Chaperone” by Jean Davies Okimoto. Reread the lines indicated with each question below. Work within your group and on your own notebook paper, answer each question using complete sentences citing text evidence.
- Lines 1-10: What point of view is the story written?
- Lines 1-14: Analyze what this first paragraph reveals about the narrator. What can you infer about the narrator?
- Lines 15–56: What details in these lines explain how an international dating magazine brought the narrator’s family to America?
- Lines 68-78: What is the story’s conflict? What does the conflict reveal about the narrator’s parents?
- Lines 78-97: Identify the reasons why it’s okay for Maya to join the gymnastics team?
- Lines 163–180: Why has Maya become involved in the events surrounding her brother’s suspension from school? What does her involvement suggest about her role in the family?
- Lines 231–246: What led to Nurzhan’s fight? What does the conversation reveal about Nurzhan?
- Lines 293–314: What are the differences between what Mr. Shanaman says and what Maya translates? What does her translation suggest about Papa?
- Lines 338-358: Why does Maya think it’s okay to translate Mr. Shanamn’s words incorrectly?
- Lines 405–413: What is the difference in customs between Kazakhstan and America that causes a problem? How do you know that Maya and Nurzhan understand this difference better than their mother?
- Lines 520–541: How do Maya’s parents react to finding her with Daniel? What does their reaction suggest about Maya’s chance of being allowed to go to the dance?
- Lines 563–575: What does Mama mean when she says, “You have brought shame to your father and to this family”?
- Lines 624–654: In what ways does Maya’s life change as a result of Mama’s injury? How does Mama’s injury both simplify and complicate Maya’s life?
- Lines 711–749: How does Maya react to Nurzhan’s suggestion that he can convince Papa to sign the permission slip? How does Nurzhan’s plan provoke a decision that pleases everyone?
- Lines 773–792: Why is Mama’s gift for Maya important to both of them? Why does the bracelet represent a change in Mama?