EXTRA ACTIVITIES

Chapter 1
1. What can we infer about Gabriel's relationship with _____________________________________________________________
Silvia based on their interaction? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 6. How do you think Gabriel's feelings towards Silvia will
_____________________________________________________________ change after this encounter?
_____________________________________________________________
2. How does Gabriel's internal dialogue contribute to _____________________________________________________________
our understanding of his character? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
7. What might be the significance of the earthquake
_____________________________________________________________ occurring at the end of the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________
3. Compare and contrast Gabriel and Marco based on _____________________________________________________________
their descriptions and actions in the chapter. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 8. How might Gabriel's and Marco's relationship evolve in
_____________________________________________________________
the story?
_____________________________________________________________
4. What does Silvia's behavior towards Gabriel suggest _____________________________________________________________
about her feelings or intentions? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 9. What do you think are the main themes introduced in
_____________________________________________________________ this first chapter?
_____________________________________________________________
5. How does the author build tension and conflict in this _____________________________________________________________
chapter? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

1
Chapter 2
15. How do you think Gabriel will react to the
10. What is known about Silvia's family and their earthquake, and will it bring him and Silvia closer
financial situation? together or further apart?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
16. Have you ever been in a situation where someone
11. What does Marco plan for the evening with Silvia? insisted on getting the best of everything, like Marco?
_____________________________________________________________ How did it make you feel?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
12. How does Silvia's behavior change when she interacts
with Marco compared to Gabriel? 17. What do you think motivates Marco's need to always
_____________________________________________________________ have the best?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
13. What can be inferred about Marco's personality based
on his actions in the restaurant? 18. Compare and contrast Gabriel's and Marco's
_____________________________________________________________ approaches to impressing Silvia.
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
14. How might Silvia's perception of Marco change after _____________________________________________________________
their evening at the restaurant? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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2 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Chapter 3
19. What is known about Silvia's family and their 24. How might Silvia's perception of Marco change after
financial situation? their evening at the restaurant?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

20. What does Marco plan for the evening with Silvia? 25. How do you think Gabriel will react to the
_____________________________________________________________ earthquake, and will it bring him and Silvia closer
_____________________________________________________________ together or further apart?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
21. How does Silvia's behavior change when she interacts _____________________________________________________________
with Marco compared to Gabriel?
_____________________________________________________________ 26. Have you ever been in a situation where someone
_____________________________________________________________ insisted on getting the best of everything, like Marco?
_____________________________________________________________ How did it make you feel?
_____________________________________________________________
22. What can be inferred about Marco's personality based _____________________________________________________________
on his actions in the restaurant? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 27. What do you think motivates Marco's need to always
_____________________________________________________________ have the best?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
23. What information does Mr. Enriques provide about _____________________________________________________________
Silvia's mother?
_____________________________________________________________ 28. Compare and contrast Gabriel's and Marco's
_____________________________________________________________ approaches to impressing Silvia.
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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3 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Chapter 4
29. What is Silvia's initial reaction upon realizing her 34. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to
mother is missing? quickly decide what to take with you in an
_____________________________________________________________ emergency? What did you choose and why?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
30. Why does Silvia decide to leave the flat quickly? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 35. How would you handle a situation where you needed
to find a loved one during a disaster?
31. What does Mr. Enriques' condition and reaction to the _____________________________________________________________
earthquake reveal about the broader impact on the _____________________________________________________________
community? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 36. What do you think are the most important qualities
_____________________________________________________________ someone needs to stay calm and focused during a
crisis like Silvia does?
32. What items does Silvia collect from her flat before _____________________________________________________________
leaving again? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
37. What are the similarities and differences between
33. How might the condition of the town and the chaos Silvia's immediate concerns and the concerns of her
around affect Silvia’s journey to find her mother? neighbors as depicted in the chapter?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
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4 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Chapter 5
38. Where was Gabriel when the earthquake started? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

39. “Everything went black.” What does this mean? 44. Why does Gabriel decide to go to the Delgado's flat
after the earthquake?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
40. Where was Gabriel when he woke up? How many
people were waiting for help?
_____________________________________________________________
45. What might Gabriel discover when he reaches
Delgado's flat?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
41. What did the nurse tell Gabriel to do? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
46. What are the similarities and differences between
Gabriel's immediate concerns and Silvia's concerns
after the earthquake?
42. What does Gabriel's decision to leave the hospital _____________________________________________________________
indicate about his character? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
47. Have you ever had to make a difficult decision about
helping others when you were also in need of help?
43. How does the author create a sense of urgency and What did you decide and why?
chaos in the description of Gabriel’s experience _____________________________________________________________
during and after the earthquake? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

5 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Chapter 6
48. Where was Gabriel when the earthquake started? 54. Have you ever had a moment of clarity like Silvia,
where you realized your true feelings about someone
_____________________________________________________________
or something? How did it change your perspective?
_____________________________________________________________
49. What information did Silvia learn from the people _____________________________________________________________
around her about the state of the town? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 55. Compare Silvia's feelings of relief and realization
upon finding out Marco is safe with her earlier
50. What does the man’s story about Marco reveal about concern for him.
Marco’s character? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

51. What realization did Silvia come to about her feelings 56. How might Silvia's relationship with Gabriel change
for Marco and Gabriel? now that she has realized her true feelings for him?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

52. How would you feel if you were in Silvia's situation, 57. In what ways do the different characters' responses
trying to find a loved one in the aftermath of a to the earthquake highlight their personalities and
disaster? values?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
53. How would you feel if you were in Silvia's situation,
trying to find a loved one in the aftermath of a
disaster?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

6 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Chapter 7
64. Have you ever had to take care of someone or
58. What did Gabriel notice about the street when he something important in a difficult situation? How did
arrived? it make you feel?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
59. Why did Gabriel smile? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
65. What did Gabriel do for the small boy he found in the
60. Where did he find food for the workers? street?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

61. What role does the red rose play in this chapter, both 66. How does Gabriel’s interaction with the thieves
literally and symbolically?
contrast with his interactions with the other men and
_____________________________________________________________ the child?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
62. How would you react in a situation where you had to
protect someone else's belongings in a crisis? 67. What did Gabriel decide to do after realizing Silvia had
_____________________________________________________________ been there and was likely safe?
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
63. What qualities do you admire in Gabriel's actions _____________________________________________________________
throughout this chapter?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

7 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Chapter 8
68. What good news did Mr. Garcia hear on his radio in 73. What challenges do you think the characters will face
as they begin to rebuild their lives?
Liberty Park?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

69. How did Gabriel react when he realized it was Silvia? 74. In what ways do Silvia and Gabriel’s experiences
_____________________________________________________________
during and after the earthquake reflect their personal
_____________________________________________________________
growth?
_____________________________________________________________
70. What did Gabriel have in his hand, and what did Silvia _____________________________________________________________
do with it? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
75. How did Gabriel demonstrate his commitment to the
Delgados throughout the novel?
71. What do you think will happen to Silvia and Gabriel _____________________________________________________________
after their reunion? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ 76. What role did Mr. and Mrs. Garcia play in ensuring
Mrs. Delgado’s safety?
72. How might the return to their homes affect the _____________________________________________________________
characters' relationships and future plans? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

8 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
 ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

AFTER READING… 4. What are the main themes or messages of the

novel? Do you agree with them?
________________________________________________________________
1. How did the earthquake serve as a catalyst for ________________________________________________________________
change in Silvia’s relationships and priorities? ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ 5. Did the story teach any lessons or convey any
________________________________________________________________ morals? What are they?
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. Did you notice any cultural differences between ________________________________________________________________
your culture and the one in the novel? What were ________________________________________________________________
they?
________________________________________________________________ 6. Can you relate to any of the characters or situations
________________________________________________________________ in the novel? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. What new words or phrases did you learn from the
novel? Can you use them in a sentence? 7. What was your favorite part of the novel? Why?
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

9 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES
8. How did the story make you feel? Were there any 10. Write diary entries from the perspective of a
parts that made you particularly happy, sad, or character.
angry? ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
9. Write an alternative ending to the story
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10 - EXTRA ACTIVITIES