Reading 04/25/2011 Summary The Pearl Chapter 6

Summary:

Kino, Juana and their son begin their long march north. They walk all the night and Kino try to hide their traces. They are afraid somebody can follow them. They stop on the roadside just before the sunrise, to sleep a little. They stay there until midday, Kino was sleeping when he wake up suddenly with a bad dream. He felt something bad. He asks to Juana to not move and he goes to check there are trackers. In fact, he saw 3 trackers on their way and one with a horse. They decide to change direction to lose them in the mountain. Finally, trackers stop just near Kino and his family, two of them are sleeping, Kino wants to kill the last one, for him it is their last chance to survive. But it is too late, the moon is already here. Coyotito cry, trackers though maybe it is a coyote, so to check that tracker take is gun and shoot on the direction of the cry and kill Coyotito. Kino is full of rage and kills them. Juana and Kino return to their village, Coyotito is on the back of Juana, but died. All the village understands and don’t move. They take the direction of the ocean and throw away this pearl and the music of the pearl disappear.

Vocabularies:

To gurgle :  to make a sound as of water doing this (often used of birdsor of human beings).

To struggle : to make (one's way) with violent effort.

Hibiscus : Kind of tree

Questions : 

Where do they stop to rest ?

How many trackers follow them?

Why trackers kill Coyotito ?

Interesting sentence:

"He looked into his pearl to find his vision. "When we sell it at least, I will have a rifle," he said, and he looked into the shinning surface for his rifle, but he saw only a huddled darf body on the ground with shinning blood dripping from his throat. and he said quickly " we will be married int he great church." And in the pearl he saw Juana with her beaten face crawling home through the night. "Our son must learn to read," he said frantically."

On this passage, we can see the determination of Kino. He becomes afraid but he doesn't want to scare Juana. He doesn't want to accept their actual issues and wants to believe in their dreams.

Reading 04/18/2011 Summary : The pearl Chapter 5

Summary :

Kino was sleeping when suddenly he heard a quiet noise in the brush. It was Juana, she tried to steal the Pearl and go out. Kino very angry wake up and follow her, when she tried to throw away the pearl into the ocean, Kino catch her arm and beat her.  While Kino was walking on the beach, a man attacks him for his pearl, for his survival Kino kill him. Now, they don’t have any choices they have to leave quickly the village before the dawn. While Juana has to take Coyotito and all the corn they have, Kino goes to the Canoe but he find a big hole on it. During this time, someone put the fire on their brush. Kino’s brother and his wife decide to help them. They are worried and they hide Kino and Juana in their brush until the nightfall.

Questions : 

1. Why Juana want to throw away the pearl ?

2. Does Kino put the fire himself to his brush ?

3. What is happened to Kino's canoe ?

4. Which direction Kino decide to take ?

Vocabularies :

Sluggishly = Slowly

Boulders = Big stones

Glimmer = a faint or unsteady light, gleam

Sorrow = (noun) distress caused by loss, affliction, disappointment. synonym : grief, sadness or regret.

Interresting sentence :

"It meant that Kino would drive his strenght against a mountain and plunge his strenght against the sea. Juana, in her woman's soul, knew that the mountain would stand while the man broke himself; that the sea would surge while the man drowned in it."

In this paragraph, the author wanted to show differents soul between a man and a woman. Juana seems to be more realist than Kino. Kino is a dreamer, he wants to believe and make the best of himself.

Writing 04/18/2011

What's your favorite season : spring, summer, fall or winter ? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.

Although I love winter spots, Christmas time and my birthday are in December, my favorite season is spring. In fact in my opinion the weather is good, spring is a colorful season, we can do lots of activities and finally a good period of the year.

First, usually during spring the weather is good. This means, it is not too hot nor too cold. Contrary to the summer we don’t need to stay in the shade, the heat is comfortable. After the winter and the snow, we are very happy when the first warm and sunny days arrive. Moreover, we are happy to wear summer clothes after a long winter.

The second reason is spring is a colorful season and we can do lots of activities. In fact, spring is the flowers season. We can see flowers everywhere. Public parks, gardens are multicolored. Lots of people love to spend time gardening. Moreover we can play sports outside like soccer, volleyball… On Weekends we can also have a picnic with family or friends or go for a walk.

The last reason is spring time is the best period of the year. In fact, it is the end of winter, the end of the cold weather. We are always happy to enjoy sunny days. Usually this period is also the end of school so students have a lot of joy to almost be on vacation. Finally, days become longer and sun is helpful for the spirits. In fact, we have more motivation and energy when the sun is present.

For all these reasons, in my opinion, spring is the best season. That does not mean other seasons are bad. We need all seasons to appreciate each time of year. Even though we are actually in spring the weather is warmer but not clear. I cannot wait better days.

Reading 04/11/2011 : Summary The Pearl Chapter 4

SUMMARY CHAPTER 4:

In the town, La Paz, everybody knows that Kino was going to sell his pearl that day. During this day, the others divers don’t go to dive, they are speaking what they would do if they had found a great pearl. In the village, they hope that the wealth will not turn Kino’s head. Since the morning, Kino and Juana are very excited by this day, for them it is like a new departure. Kino is accompanied by his brother. On their way, Juan tomas give advices to Kino. He is afraid that pearls buyers can cheat about the price because don’t know how cost pearl in another place. Kino and his brother arrive in the pearls buyer’s office. The man told them the pearl is big but too big so nobody will buy this, he doesn’t have the market for a pearl like this. Kino is angry so the man propose him to call 3 others pearls buyer to confirm his opinion. The 3 others buyers said almost the same thing to have this pearl for a lowest price. Kino is not stupid he understand there is collusion and angry he recovers his pearl and go away. Pearls buyers understand they played too hard and propose more money but it is too late. During the evening, all village speak about this story. Some are afraid Kino lost his reason and others are very proud. Kino wants to go in the capitol to sell his pearl. For the dinner, Kino heard a sound around his brush. He takes his knife and go outside. Juana tries to stop him. Finally someone beat Kino’s head and he is half-conscious when Juana come to help him. His wife asks him a second time to through away this pearl but Kino is Pigheaded. He decides tomorrow morning they will take the canoe and will go direction the capital together.

QUESTIONS:

What is a collusion?

What is the different reasons in the pearls buyers’ speech that the pearl has not a great value ?

Why do Juana want to do with the pearl ?

INTERESTING SENTENCE:

“This was to be the day from which all other days would take their arrangement.” (Last sentence page 43)

It is a sentence with a lot of hope. This pearl can permit them to change their lives forever.

VOCABULARIES:

Squat: (verb) to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn upclosely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.

Throat : (noun) the passage from the mouth to the stomach or to the lungs

Dampness: (noun) moisture; humidity; moist air

Writing 04/11/2011

Each teacher has a different way to teach his subject. Some of them assign homework to everyday. In my opinion, it is necessary for several reasons: We need to practice every day to improve, it is a good way to remark improvement and finally lots of students are not already conscious about their studies’ interest so they don’t work at home if they don’t have homework.

First, in all subject we need to practice to improve especially for a new language. In fact, the best way to develop our skill is to practice every day. For example, for ELC students we need to read, speak, listen and write in English every day if we want to improve quickly. Sometimes we don’t have an occasion during the day to practice so it is essential to do that at home. Homework is a good exercise to continue to work at home.

Secondly, homework permit to remark improvement and check if we understand or not the lesson. For example, if we compare our first essay to the last one we observe a difference for the structure, the length and maybe also the number of mistakes. Moreover, homework is like training for the next quiz. It is a new chance to check if we understand everything before we get grade.

Finally, some students don’t work at home if they don’t have homework. I think it is important especially for ELC students who don’t English at home. Sometimes we are too lazy to work alone or we don’t know what we can do, which exercise.  In this case, homework is a good help to find motivation and the kind of exercises.

In conclusion, if we want to improve in any subjects we need to practice again and again. Homework is a good way to practice at home, to observe evolution or to find motivation or reason to work. Sometimes, we can think it is boring but we know it is essential.

Reading 04/04/2011 Summary : The pearl Chapter 3

In the city, everybody speak about Kino’s pearl. This new interest and shake all city’s inhabitant: Doctor, beggars, shopkeepers, pearl’s buyers. In fact when the doctor knows about the pearl, he decides to cure Coyotito. Kino and Juana are happy and they believe everybody have this attitude because they share their joy. Kino dreams about all that he wants to do with the pearl’s money. Principally, he wants to get Married Juana, buy news clothes and rifle and more especially to pay school to Coyotito. The happy couple receive two exceptional visits : The priest and the doctor. The doctor says to Kino his son is maybe still sick and needs to be cure. He proposes to do that. For that, he puts medicine in Coyotito’s mouth and come back one hour later. Coyotito looks now very sick, he vomits. Their parents are very worry. When the doctor come back, he gives to Kino’s son something else and says Coyotito is cured now. He asks to Kino when they will pay the bill. Kino answers him; he will sell his pearl tomorrow so he will pay him the next day. The doctor lies and says he didn’t know about the great pearl. He proposes to Kino to keep it in save place but Kino refuses. During the night, the couple heard strange sound around their house, Kino wakes up very angry but he cannot catch anybody. With this pearl, they sometimes heard evil’s songs. Kino and Juana are afraid and Juana asks to Kino to throw away the pearl because she is scared that it can destroy them.

Questions :

1. The author compare "Town" to something else. What is it ? (Page 21)

2.What do Kino want to do with his money ? (End page 24 to 26)

3. What is the doctor attitude ?

4. Who know about Kino's Pearl ?

5. Where Kino hide his pearl ?

Writing 04/04/2011

        In our life we are surrounded by friends, sometimes it is a long relationship sometimes it is ephemeral. This is unconscious but we choose our friends with their qualities. For me, the most important characteristics in choosing a friend is the sense of humor because we can spend good times with them and reliable because real friends should be present for the good as well as the difficult moments.

        First, a good sense of humor is a very pleasant quality. In fact, with friends who have sense of humor you can spend a good time and laugh during all the day. Moreover, if sometimes you don’t feel good, they can help you to feel better. F.or example, they can tell jokes to help you find your smile again or just help you to think about something else. These friends help create a dynamic group ads we never get bored with them.

        The second important characteristic is reliable. In fact, it is good to spend a wonderful time with friends but unfortunately we are not always in a good mood. In these moments, we need somebody who is present for us. Somebody with whom we have confidence and we can share our worries. Usually these kinds of friends become easily our best friend.

        Friendship is something very important for our balance. We need a Family but friends too. During our whole life, we meet unbelievable people who help you, support you, make our lives funnier. Moreover, we can learn a lot of things thanks to friends. Friendship is very rich in many domains.

        Finally, to have friends is essential. We choose consciously or unconsciously our friends for theirs personalities. In my case, the most important thing is the sense of humor and reliability o f them. However, we need to have different friends with different qualities. This makes life more interesting