The Tequila Worm

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. Who is Doña Clara?

2. What does Sofia put in her shirt pocket?

3. What does the big girl call Sofia at school?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why do Berta and Sofia start fighting on their way to church?

2. How does one make cascarones?

3. Why does Sofia’s mom think it is a bad idea to be a curandera for Halloween?

Paired Resource

“Curanderas – Women Who Heal”

• This article from the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program provides a brief explanation of the history and actions of curanderas.
• This resource connects to the theme of The Importance of Tradition and Culture.
• How do Tía Belia’s actions in Chapter 5 connect to the traditional view of the curandera? How do her actions emphasize The Importance of Tradition and Culture?

Chapters 7-11

Reading Check

1. How far away is Saint Luke’s?

2. What song did Sofia’s parents dance to at their wedding?

3. For whom is Sofia the dama de honor?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Tía Petra cover everything in plastic?

2. What do Sofia and her Papá do every Tuesday?

3. What does Sofia notice about Berta at the drive-in movie?

Paired Resource

“The Complete Guide: Quinceañera Traditions You Need to Know”

• This article from Metropol details all aspects of traditional quinceañeras, from the history and religious rituals to the court, the father-daughter dance, and the last doll.
• This resource connects to the themes of The Importance of Tradition and Culture and The Community’s Role in Encouraging Growth and Shaping Identity.
• There are many rituals and traditions involved in a traditional quinceañera. Which rituals and traditions did Berta ask her community to sponsor?

Chapters 12-15

Reading Check

1. How much money must Sofia earn to attend Saint Luke’s?

2. What is the canicula?

3. What special gifts does Sofia’s family give to her for her birthday?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Berta help Sofia get ready to attend Saint Luke’s?

2. What shocking event does Sofia experience while working in the packing shed?

3. What does Mamá give to Sofia before she leaves for school?

Paired Resource

“They Call It the ‘Canicula’”

• This article from the Los Angeles Times addresses some of the superstitions surrounding the canicula, in addition to the heatwave’s impact on people who live in the region.
• This resource connects to the themes of The Importance of Tradition and Culture and The Community’s Role in Encouraging Growth and Shaping Identity.
• What is the origin of the word canicula? Why is it a bad idea to make big decisions during this time? How seriously do the characters in the novel take canicula?

Chapters 16-21

Reading Check

1. Who is Brooke?

2. How do Marcos and Sofia travel home for Thanksgiving?

3. What does Brooke give Sofia for Christmas?

4. What disease does Sofia’s father have?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What strange occurrences are happening during chapel?

2. How does Sofia deal with homesickness?

3. Why does Mamá tell Sofia she cannot eat the frozen tamales?

4. What are Sofia’s responsibilities as the madrina?

Recommended Next Reads 

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

• This novel tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina woman growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago. Through a series of vignettes, the book addresses social class, family, sexual awareness, and the innocence of childhood.
• This book connects to the themes of The Importance of Tradition and Culture and The Community’s Role in Encouraging Growth and Shaping Identity.
• Shared topics include coming of age, Latinx literature, and poverty.
• The House on Mango Street on SuperSummary

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

• This memoir in verse tells Jacqueline Woodson’s origin story as a writer and explores her family history. Though she was born in Ohio, her parents’ divorce set in motion a life lived between South Carolina and New York—a life in which she was raised by her grandparents and her mother in the aftermath of the Jim Crow era.
• This book connects to the themes of The Importance of Tradition and Culture and The Community’s Role in Encouraging Growth and Shaping Identity.
• Shared topics include coming of age and poverty.
• Brown Girl Dreaming on SuperSummary