activity text interpretation, aimed at students in the fifth year of elementary school, about An unexpected light. Shall we read the text that introduces us to this work by the great writer José Saramago? Then, be sure to answer the various questions proposed!
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
Read:
A tale about the wonder of childhood – and how these feelings continue to resonate in adulthood –, written by one of the great Portuguese-language authors.
The short story “An unexpected light” was published for the first time in Brazil in 1996, in the book Traveler's luggage. In it, José Saramago recalls a seemingly common experience from his childhood: the day he went to help his uncle sell pigs at the market.
In this story, however, Saramago uses all his narrative power, and transports us to a world of enchantment that only exists when you are a child.
The illustrations by Mexican artist Armando Fonseca give an atmosphere to the text, capable of winning over adults and children of any age group, from zero to one hundred years old.
“The myth of paradise lost is that of childhood – there is no other. The rest are realities to be conquered, dreamed of in the present, stored in the unattainable future. And without them I don't know what we would do today. I don't know.”
Author: José Saramago
Illustrator: Armando Fonseca
Available in: .
Question 1 – Read back:
“A tale about the wonder of childhood – and how these feelings continue to resonate in adulthood –, written by one of the greatest authors in the Portuguese language.”
Which story and which author does the text refer to?
Question 2 – In the passage above, the term “how”:
( ) indicates mode.
( ) points to a cause.
( ) establishes a comparison.
Question 3 – In the part “[…] it was published for the first time in Brazil in 1996, in the book Traveler's luggage.”, the underlined expression indicates:
( ) quite.
( ) place.
( ) time.
Question 4 – In “In it, José Saramago remembers a seemingly common passage from his childhood: the day he went to help his uncle sell pigs at the market.”, the text:
( ) narrates.
( ) describe.
( ) argues.
Question 5 – In the excerpt “In this report, however, Saramago uses all his narrative power […]”, the word between commas has the same meaning as:
( ) "however".
( ) "that's why".
( ) "therefore".
Question 6 – Underline the word below that expresses the idea of sum:
“[…] and transports us to a world of enchantment that only exists when you are a child.”
Question 7 – Watch:
“The illustrations by Mexican artist Armando Fonseca give the text an atmosphere, capable of winning over adults and children of any age group, from zero to one hundred years old.”
The highlighted segment works as:
( ) an alert.
( ) an invitation.
( ) a clarification.
Question 8 – At the end of the text, quotation marks highlight:
( ) an excerpt from the story.
( ) a summary of the story.
( ) a fragment in figurative language.
By Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Literature and specialist in distance education.
