1a. How does Ignacio view the ocelot skin he hangs in his hut? According to the author, why did Ignacio kill the ocelot?
2a. After whom does Rabinowitz name the jaguar he finds in the trap? What is significant about this name?
3a. The author sees Cirillo and Chac as two worlds so intertwined, yet so foreign to each other. Where does the author see himself?
1b. Why does the author offer to pay the Maya for helping him catch live cats? Why does the author accept the skin from Ignacio? What larger goal might the author hope to accomplish by doing each of these things?
2b. Why do you think the author chooses this name?
3b. What do you think he means by this?
4a. In what ways do the Maya interact with jaguars and other cats in this selection? In what ways does Rabinowitz interact with jaguars in this selection? In what ways does Rabinowitz attempt to influence the way the Maya interact with jaguars and other cats?
4b. How do the author and the Maya differ in the way they view the value of jaguars in the wild?
5a. How effective do you think the author's approach is in encouraging the Maya to look at jaguars in a new way?
5b. How might Rabinowitz use what he learns from the jaguars he tags to influence the way the Maya view and interact with jaguars in the future?
Documentary Writing. Why might it be important for the author to accurately record the events that take place in this selection? In the future, how might the author use the information he records?
Anecdote. What are some of the anecdotes Rabinowitz shares with the reader in "Chac"? Briefly summarize the anecdotes. How does the author use these anecdotes to provide insight about his values? goals? struggles?
External Conflict. What conflicts is Rabinowitz facing? Did you find characters other than Rabinowitz who were dealing with conflict? Explain how you came to your conclusions.
1. Choose something to observe—a pet, an insect, a zoo animal, or an unsuspecting person—for five or ten minutes, and create a set of field notes that objectively document the physical aspects of your subject and its location, along with any movement or behavior you witness during that time.
2. Imagine encountering a jaguar in the jungle. Write a free verse poem about the experience.
3. Write a journal entry that describes your dream job. What is it, and why would you most like to do that job? What would it allow you to accomplish? What challenges and rewards would it offer?
Words in Context. Write the correct word in each of the sentences below. You may have to change the tense of certain verbs.
1. Lance had to __________________ the boat to the dock.
2. We had to __________________ the unfamiliar mountain trail carefully.
3. I had to __________________ happiness when my best friend got a date with the guy I secretly admired.
4. The __________________ volunteers received an award for their dedication.
5. I wanted to __________________ the sweetness of the chocolate as long as possible.
6. The __________________ on my elbow is finally starting to heal.
7. If it were not for the __________________ cough and rustle of papers, the auditorium would have been silent.
8. I felt __________________ after breaking up with my boyfriend.
9. Their __________________ applause caused the cast to beam with pride.
10. I know the anger I feel toward my dad will __________________, but right now I feel miserable.
Correcting Spelling Errors. Some of the words below are misspelled. If a word is misspelled, write the correct spelling on the space provided. If the word is spelled correctly, write correct.
1. colume
2. adolesent
3. bankrupcy
4. temprature
5. pastime
6. necessity
7. withold
8. vaccum
9. hinderance
10. calander
Researching the Mayan Culture: Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources:
Books and other print sources:
What are some of the most impressive accomplishments of ancient Mayan society?
What was everyday life like for the ancient Maya?
What is everyday life like for the Maya of today?
How did geography influence the culture of the ancient Maya?
How does it influence Mayan culture today?
What role did the jaguar play in ancient Mayan society?
What role does it play today?
What are some of the challenges the ancient Maya faced?
What challenges do the Mayan people of today face?
