Question

comprehension tools
determine point of view
name:
text a
tales from the paramount
directions
as you read, underline
words that show how
willa feels about the
paramount hotel and
the people that visit.
then, complete the
activity on page 4.
1 sometimes people think cities are made up of only super tall
buildings and large crowds, but cities are really a collection of all
kinds of neighborhoods. i live in the oldest neighborhood in our
city. we have no skyscrapers and no crowds, but we do have the
best stories.
2 the oldest building in the neighborhood is the paramount
hotel, where my mom works. the paramount was popular and
majestic when it was new, 100 years ago, but it’s quiet there now.
i do my homework at the hotel after school while i wait for mom.
majestic: impressive, grand
3 today the lobby is empty when i come through the doors. the
manager smiles at me. “welcome to the paramount,” mr.
matthews says. “how may i help you?”
4 he says that same thing every day, but i don’t mind. i like to
imagine he’s secretly a robot manager and that he greets everyone
that way automatically.
5 “can i hang out in the lobby, mr. matthews?”
6 “you’re always welcome, miss willa. do you have homework?”
7 i really want to chat, so i say, “a little, but i could do it at home.”
8 “a task completed is a battle won.”
9 “right,” i say as i haul my backpack over to one of the big
lobby chairs. “anyone interesting come in today?”
10 “everyone is interesting,” he says. “because everyone has a
story. sometimes you can see the story if you look closely.”
11 before i can ask what he means, a tall woman pushes open the
front door, so mr. matthews turns and smiles. “welcome to the
paramount. how may i help you?”

Explanation:

Since the problem (from the image) is about analyzing a text to determine Willa's feelings (as per the directions: "underline words that show how Willa feels about the Paramount Hotel and the people that visit"), and it's a reading comprehension task related to literature (analyzing a narrative text), we can use the Answer-Explanation Format.

To determine Willa's feelings, we analyze her actions and words:

• She likes the hotel: "I do my homework at the hotel after school while I wait for Mom", "I like to imagine he’s secretly a robot manager...", and she feels welcome ("You’re always welcome, Miss Willa").
• About people: She is curious ("Anyone interesting come in today?") and thinks everyone is interesting (echoing Mr. Matthews' "Everyone is interesting" as she engages with the topic). Words like "like", "want to chat", and her curiosity show positive feelings towards the hotel and interest in the visitors.

Answer:

To complete the task, underline words/phrases like: "I like to imagine", "You’re always welcome", "I really want to chat", "Anyone interesting", "Everyone is interesting" (from Mr. Matthews, which she engages with) to show Willa’s positive feelings (fondness for the hotel, curiosity/interest in visitors).