The Appointment

BENEMÉRITA UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE PUEBLA ESCUELA DE LENGUAS CENTRO DE AUTO-ACCESO Y TECNOLOGÍA

Nivel Synonyms 100-101

Objective: To identify and use Synonyms. Reading & Comprehension.

PREACTIVITY Synonyms are different words or phrases in the same language that have a similar meaning. For example, the words "bigger" and "larger" are synonyms. Either one could be used in the sentence such as "Elephants are bigger than mice" or "Elephants are larger than mice." Both sentences have the same meaning. See if you can identify some synonyms.

1. Which word is the synonym of “woman”, as in “the woman wore a red dress”?  Man

 Lady

 Girl

 Mother

2. Which word is the synonym of “bad”?  Terrible  Unlucky

 Good

 Ugly

3. Which word is the synonym of “happy”, as “I am happy to just stay here at the beach”?  Laughing  Sad

 Joyful

 Content

4. Which word is the synonym of “strange”, as in “I feel strange today”?  Funny

 Unusual

 Weird

 All of the above

READING: The Appointment. Mexican tale.

Read the story, then continue with the activity.

Every November 2nd, Latin Americans celebrate “The Day of the Dead”. In Mexico, especially, it is happy not only for the living, but also for the dead. Many people believe that on this day the dead come back to Earth to visit their families. In honor of the day, stores sell cakes and candies with the shape of Death. Some people dress up with paper masks that look like Death´s ugly face. Everyone enjoys this holiday.

In the little Mexican town of Saint Cristobal lives a rich man, Mr. Esteban, and his handsome young servant, Emilio. Mr. Esteban is very old and can’t longer walk without a walking stick. Emilio cooks for him and takes care of him.

On November 2nd, “The Day of the Dead”, Mr. Esteban decides to eat a piece of fish for his dinner. He asks Emilio to go to the market to buy fish. The market place is very crowded. It is late afternoon. Excited children dance around small fires that are burning at every street corner. Most of the people of the town are in the market place. They are talking, visiting, and enjoying the thousands of candles and flowers. Many of them are dressing up paper masks that look like Death. One man is dressing up such mask seems to be very interested in Emilio. He keeps looking at him.

“Maybe I know him,” thinks Emilio. He walks over to the man in the mask and tells him cheerfully, “Take off your mask, friend, and let me see who you are”.

“I really don´t wish to do that yet”, replies the man in a strange voice. “Don´t be that way”, says Emilio. “Come on, take it off”.

“If you insist”. Says the man, “but you are going to see my face again soon enough.” He removes the paper mask. Under it is the terrible, bone-white face of Death.

Emilio´s heart begins to beat so fast that he fears it will stop completely. He runs home as fast as he can. He tells Mr. Esteban about meeting Death in the market place.

“Help me,“ Emilio begs Mr. Esteban, “I am too young to die.”

“How can I help you?” The old man asks.

“Give me some money. I will take the bus to Puebla. I can be there in four hours. Puebla is a big city. I can hide there. I can surely escape from Death there.”

Mr. Esteban gladly gives Emilio enough money. The servant packs in a shirt and a toothbrush. He hurries to catch the bus, and soon he is on his way to Puebla.

In the evening, the old man remembers that he wants to eat fish for dinner. He takes his walking stick and slowly walks to the market place. It is very crowded, but he recognizes Death immediately.

“Good evening, Mr. Death,” Mr. Esteban calls. “I hope you are here in St. Cristobal for me”.

“No, not for you, Not yet”, Death replies kindly.

“Why not?” The old man asks. “My legs are almost useless. I have no teeth to eat with.

I am lonely because all my friends are dead”. Why can you take me? Surely it is time to for me to die.

“I am sorry; it is not your time yet, “Says Death.

“Are you here in St. Cristobal because my servant, Emilio?” Mr. Esteban asks.

“Why Emilio and not me? He is so young. He is still afraid to die”.

Death answers, “Today I am not here in St. Cristobal to get either you or Emilio. I have an appointment with someone else. Meeting Emilio this afternoon in the market place was as much a surprise to me as to him.”

“A surprise?” asks Mr. Esteban. “Why was a surprise?”

“Because, says Death, “I have an appointment with Emilio late tonight, in Puebla.”

ACTIVITY DEFINITIONS: Try to guess the best definition for these words. Then look them up in your dictionary and draw a circle around the answer. a greeting A) appointment

a date

with respect for D) (in) honor (of)

a fight fashion B) form

model

in exchange for refuse to E) decide

shape to ask C) beg

to agree to allow

in favor of

to have to know

F) recognize

find get

POSTACTIVITY READING & COMPREHENSION: Read the questions. Find answers in the story. Write the answers under the questions.

1. Why is “The Day of the Dead” a happy holiday for many people?

2. When Emilio sees a man wearing a Death mask looking at him, what does he say?

3. What reasons does Emilio have for going to Puebla?

4. Why doesn’t Death take old Mr. Esteban now?

5. Why is Death here in Saint. Cristobal this day?

6. Why is the meeting with Emilio a surprise for Death?

Scene from the Mexican short film: “Hasta Los Huesos” (2001), by René Castillo.

PREACTIVITY 1 Lady

2 Terrible

3 Content

4 Unusual

ACTIVITY A) appointment a date

D) (in) honor (of) respect for

B) form shape

E)

C) beg to ask

with

decide make up your mind

F) recognize know

POSTACTIVITY 1. Because many people believe that on this day the dead come back to Earth to visit their families.

2. Emilio says “Maybe I know him” 3. Because he wants to escape from the death.

4. Because it is not his time yet.

5. I have an appointment with someone.

6. “Because, says Death, “I have an appointment with Emilio late tonight, in Puebla.”

REFERENCE: http://www.kidport.com/grade3/LanguageArts/Synonyms.htm

Adapted by: Raúl García Báez.