Question

close reading
circle positive words
describing the watch.
draw a box around the
negative words. think
about the feelings the
words suggest.

hint
review the words you
marked above. does the
boy see the watch in a
positive or negative way?

continue reading the short story. use the close reading and the hint
to help you answer the question

(continued from page 130)
\this old thing was your grandfathers,\ she said, smiling at
the watch like it was a familiar friend. \i dont think it works.
i suppose people would think its pretty worthless.\

but gabriel asked his mother for the time, wound up the
watch, and let it swing from its chain like a pendulum. the
ticking sound it made was as steady as a heartbeat. just then,
some storm clouds crossed the sun, heavy with the rain of a
summer storm. but gabriel now had a new treasure, which he
polished until it shined, and he tucked it carefully into his
pocket so he would always know the time.

circle the correct answer.
which word from the story best describes how gabriel feels about
the watch?
a treasure
b worthless
c heartbeat
d familiar

show your thinking
identify any similes and metaphors you can find in the second paragraph. how do they help
show how the boy feels about the watch?

with a partner, discuss what gabriel and his mother say about \junk\ at the start of the passage.
what is the connotation of junk? what does his mother’s response reveal about her feelings?

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Explanation:

Multiple - Choice Question

To determine how Gabriel feels about the watch, we analyze the story. The story says "But Gabriel now had a new treasure, which he polished until it shined, and he tucked it carefully into his pocket so he would always know the time." Option A "treasure" shows that Gabriel values the watch highly. Option B "worthless" is how others might see it, not Gabriel. Option C "heartbeat" is used to describe the watch's ticking, not Gabriel's feeling. Option D "familiar" is how Gabriel's mother sees the watch, not Gabriel.

1. First, identify similes and metaphors in the second paragraph:

• Simile 1: "wound up the watch, and let it swing from its chain like a pendulum" (uses "like" to compare the watch swinging to a pendulum).
• Simile 2: "The ticking sound it made was as steady as a heartbeat" (uses "as...as" to compare the watch's ticking to a heartbeat).
• Metaphor: "But Gabriel now had a new treasure" (compares the watch to a treasure, implying its value to Gabriel).

1. Then, explain how they show Gabriel's feelings:

• The simile comparing the watch to a pendulum shows that Gabriel is interested in the watch's movement, treating it with care. The simile with the heartbeat shows that the watch's ticking is steady and reliable, which Gabriel appreciates. The metaphor of "treasure" shows that Gabriel values the watch a great deal, seeing it as something precious.

1. About "junk" at the start (assuming from context, maybe earlier in the passage not fully shown here, but generally):

• Gabriel and his mother's initial view on "junk" (the watch might be considered junk by some): The connotation of "junk" is something useless, unwanted, or of little value.
• Gabriel's mother's response: From the story, she says "I don't think it works. I suppose people would think it's pretty worthless." But her smile at the watch like a familiar friend shows she has a sentimental attachment to it, even if she thinks others might see it as junk.

Answer:

A. treasure

"Show Your Thinking" Sub - Question