Answer Close-Reading Questions
Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.
• Identify events that led to the Mariel boatlift. (Sequence)
Under Fidel Castro’s Communist government, people couldn’t own land or businesses and faced constant food shortages and high prices on goods. People who spoke out against Castro could be jailed or even killed. After Peru granted asylum to several Cubans who had reached the grounds of its embassy in Cuba, thousands of other Cubans flocked to that embassy, also seeking asylum. Multiple nations, including the United States, offered to take in asylum seekers. After Castro said Cubans could go to the U.S., and U.S. President Jimmy Carter said they were allowed to come, more than 100,000 people boarded boats to Florida.
• Why did Anabel Ginns and her family have to go to a refugee camp before leaving Cuba? (Key Details)
Anabel and her family had to go to a refugee camp before they could depart from Cuba because so many people were trying to leave and they couldn’t go all at once.
• Summarize how Anabel’s life in the U.S. differed from her life in Cuba. (Summarizing)
Anabel’s life in the U.S. was different from her life in Cuba because in the U.S. she had more opportunities and more access to food and clothing. However, unlike in Cuba, she didn’t have friends to play with outside and her parents didn’t get home from work until 9 or 10 p.m.
• What are two other questions you would have asked Anabel? Why? (Asking Questions)
Responses will vary.