Thinking While Reading Check

subdued

overwhelming

inspiring

restless

watch a lot of television every night

marry someone with less intelligence

report weekly to the Handicapper General

wear mental-handicap transmitters

the same as everyone else

dangerous to others in society

above average in many ways

glad he doesn’t live at home

can no longer distinguish right from wrong

wants to dance on television with a ballerina

hopes to show the government that he is

not a threat to society

is angry about the handicaps imposed by

the government

expressing his individuality versus accepting the rules of equality that the government has imposed

wanting to dance with the ballerina versus wanting to keep his government-mandated restraints in place

visiting his parents in their home versus wanting to make a statement for individual rights on television

finding a way to balance the handicaps he knows he must wear versus wanting to express his individuality

She needs to find a job.

Johnny is at his grandmother’s.

Her mother recently died.

She broke a jar of honey.

He will eventually purchase the restaurant from Riyad.

His comments are hurtful, but offered as a way to learn.

He knows everything about running the restaurant.

The way he treats Mattie will eventually improve.

“A bouquet of orders hung clipped to the silver line strung over the window between the kitchen and the dining room.”

“Two weeks ago she’d never even thought of being a cook in a restaurant and now she was ready to help run the place.”

“She started guessing what a customer would order before the order had been turned in.”

“Mattie had noticed her as she stood next to Sergio mixing up their Date/Nut/Cream Cheese Delight in a huge bowl.”

“Johnny stared at her hard. ‘I didn’t realize you knew him.’”

“He could make the simplest word sound like an insult.”

“Johnny always stared at her as if he needed an interpreter.”

“He seemed to have softened somehow, like beans left to soak.”

tiring of restaurant work

feeling much steadier

missing her father

ready for a change