Podcast
Questions and Answers
Ahmed's father refuses to take back the inner tube, stating it would slow him down. This action primarily reveals his:
Ahmed's father refuses to take back the inner tube, stating it would slow him down. This action primarily reveals his:
- belief that the inner tube is no longer necessary.
- determination to prioritize the group's progress. (correct)
- desire to appear strong and capable in front of others.
- lack of concern for Ahmed's comfort.
The passengers cheering and shouting "Praise be to God!" after the boat jerks forward suggests:
The passengers cheering and shouting "Praise be to God!" after the boat jerks forward suggests:
- they are expressing relief and attributing the progress to divine intervention. (correct)
- they are unaware of the true danger of their situation.
- they are attempting to encourage the swimmers with positive reinforcement.
- they believe the swimmers are exceptionally strong and skilled.
Ahmed's memory of his father leading the dabke dance is used in the passage to:
Ahmed's memory of his father leading the dabke dance is used in the passage to:
- foreshadow a similar positive outcome in their current predicament.
- highlight the festive nature of their past life in Aleppo.
- emphasize his father's social and leadership skills within the community.
- contrast a past sense of security and joy with the present danger and uncertainty. (correct)
The phrase "as if considering the worth of those inside" when describing the sideways wave is an example of:
The phrase "as if considering the worth of those inside" when describing the sideways wave is an example of:
The increasing wind and choppy waves primarily function in the narrative to:
The increasing wind and choppy waves primarily function in the narrative to:
Ahmed's fear initially ebbs and is replaced by pride because:
Ahmed's fear initially ebbs and is replaced by pride because:
The loss of the buoy in the dark sea most likely symbolizes:
The loss of the buoy in the dark sea most likely symbolizes:
Why do the men confer in "tones too hushed for Ahmed to hear" before looping the towrope around the buoy?
Why do the men confer in "tones too hushed for Ahmed to hear" before looping the towrope around the buoy?
The action of passengers scooping water from the bottom of the boat into bottles and pouring it out indicates:
The action of passengers scooping water from the bottom of the boat into bottles and pouring it out indicates:
Which of the following best describes Ahmed's emotional state throughout the passage?
Which of the following best describes Ahmed's emotional state throughout the passage?
Why did people on the boat begin tossing bags into the sea?
Why did people on the boat begin tossing bags into the sea?
Why did the smugglers choose a cloudy, moonless July night for the crossing?
Why did the smugglers choose a cloudy, moonless July night for the crossing?
What does Ahmed's father do immediately after placing the inner tube around Ahmed?
What does Ahmed's father do immediately after placing the inner tube around Ahmed?
What is the main reason Ahmed's father gives for getting into the water?
What is the main reason Ahmed's father gives for getting into the water?
What does Ahmed's memory of stories about defective life jackets suggest about the situation?
What does Ahmed's memory of stories about defective life jackets suggest about the situation?
What does the phrase "Forgive me, my soul. For a moment, I must leave you" imply about the father's decision?
What does the phrase "Forgive me, my soul. For a moment, I must leave you" imply about the father's decision?
What is the significance of Ahmed's father giving him the Omega Seamaster watch?
What is the significance of Ahmed's father giving him the Omega Seamaster watch?
How does the author create a sense of shared desperation among the refugees?
How does the author create a sense of shared desperation among the refugees?
How does Ahmed's internal monologue contrast with his father's outward demeanor?
How does Ahmed's internal monologue contrast with his father's outward demeanor?
What significance can be drawn from the woman neatly folding the wiry man's clothes?
What significance can be drawn from the woman neatly folding the wiry man's clothes?
What does the phrase 'Where was Europe? Where was the rest of the world?' suggest about Ahmed's state of mind?
What does the phrase 'Where was Europe? Where was the rest of the world?' suggest about Ahmed's state of mind?
What does the detail about the rubber dinghy being 'several centimeters lower than when they had started' suggest about their journey?
What does the detail about the rubber dinghy being 'several centimeters lower than when they had started' suggest about their journey?
What is implied by describing the engineering student from Homs as not really a captain?
What is implied by describing the engineering student from Homs as not really a captain?
What does the engineering student being given 'an oblong orange buoy', suggest about his role?
What does the engineering student being given 'an oblong orange buoy', suggest about his role?
What does Ahmed's thought, 'would his death be worse than theirs had been?' reveal about his family's circumstances?
What does Ahmed's thought, 'would his death be worse than theirs had been?' reveal about his family's circumstances?
How does Ahmed react when his father jumps into the water?
How does Ahmed react when his father jumps into the water?
How could the father's 'commanding yet gentle' voice be interpreted in the context of their situation?
How could the father's 'commanding yet gentle' voice be interpreted in the context of their situation?
Which of the following best describes the emotional atmosphere on the boat?
Which of the following best describes the emotional atmosphere on the boat?
The phrase 'Omega Seamaster, a name that seemed ironic now,' suggests what about the watch's significance?
The phrase 'Omega Seamaster, a name that seemed ironic now,' suggests what about the watch's significance?
What does Ahmed's father's statement, 'You won't have to,' imply when Ahmed says he can't swim?
What does Ahmed's father's statement, 'You won't have to,' imply when Ahmed says he can't swim?
Flashcards
Dinghy
Dinghy
A small, inflatable boat often used for short distances.
Panic
Panic
The feeling of great fear and anxiety.
Defective
Defective
Faulty; not working correctly or as intended.
Powerlessness
Powerlessness
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False Words of Comfort
False Words of Comfort
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Lesbos
Lesbos
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Ironic
Ironic
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Smuggler
Smuggler
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Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
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Life Jacket
Life Jacket
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Lightening the load
Lightening the load
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Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar
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My Soul
My Soul
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Treading water
Treading water
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A medley of places
A medley of places
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Ashamed
Ashamed
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Thankful
Thankful
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Thankless Duty
Thankless Duty
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Oblong
Oblong
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Buoy
Buoy
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Conferring
Conferring
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Paddling
Paddling
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Whitecaps
Whitecaps
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Taut
Taut
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Pitched
Pitched
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Moving in a jerky, up-and-down manner.
Moving in a jerky, up-and-down manner.
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Sagging
Sagging
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Spilled
Spilled
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Ebb
Ebb
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Study Notes
- A group of refugees are on a small, overloaded rubber dinghy in the Aegean Sea, attempting to reach the Greek island of Lesbos from Turkey.
- The dinghy is losing air, and the motor won't start, causing panic among the passengers.
- Ahmed, a fourteen-year-old boy, remembers stories of defective life jackets that sink instead of float.
- Ahmed reflects on his family's past, contrasting it with their current desperate situation.
- The father assures him that they will be okay
Journey
- They had purposely waited for a cloudy, moonless July night to cross the sea.
- Less than ten kilometers separates Turkey from Lesbos.
- Ahmed is wearing his great-grandfather's Omega Seamaster watch.
- People are throwing bags into the sea to lighten the load.
- A woman with a baby is crying.
Father's Sacrifice
- Ahmed's father gives his inner tube to Ahmed and jumps into the water to help pull the boat.
- Ahmed's father tells him, "Forgive me, my soul. For a moment, I must leave you.”
- Ahmed's father and two other men swim to pull the boat.
- The swimmers pull the dinghy straight into the waves.
- A wave sweeps over the swimmers and they disappear.
Loss
- The wave disappears Ahmed's father and the other swimmers.
- People shine flashlights and shout, trying to find them.
- The captain and the Iraqi swimmer resurface, but Ahmed's father is missing.
- All Ahmed can see are "endless whitecap waves."
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Description
A group of refugees are crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Lesbos in a small, overloaded rubber dinghy. The dinghy is losing air, and the motor won't start. Ahmed's father jumps into the water to help pull the boat.
