Chapter 1

TIPS IN ANSWERING THE PEARL1. Read the entire text thoroughly:To get details of the eventTo see detailed flow of the storyTo get a clearer picture of the characters and their actions2. Analyse :a)Events that happenedWhy they happenedWhat lessons you learnt from them

b) Analyse:

The actions of the charactersWhy they do what they doHow to characterise them eg: are they caring, strong, determined,selfish, greedy, responsible?

WHILE- READING ACTIVITY:Look at the module on questions based on the pearl. Answer them in your exercise book.

HAPPY TRYING!

Chapter 1The Scorpion

Kino woke up at dawn.The stars were still shining in the sky.Kino sat outside the door of his hut & listened to the sound of the waves on the beach.The waves sounded like music.

Kinos wife, Juana, woke up.She made corn cakes for breakfast.She was singing an old song in different ways.The ancient song, The Song of the Family; it was very comforting.

Kinos son, Coyotito, was sleeping in a box hung on ropes from the roof.Juana washed the baby, fed him and put him back into the box.

A sting from a scorpion could kill.It was a SCORPION!!Suddenly she noticed something moving on one of the ropes.

Coyotito woke up.He laughed and shook the rope.The scorpion fell!!Kino was breathing heavily.Juana was praying silently.Kino moved quietly towards his son.

Coyotito screamed in pain.Kino tried to catch the scorpion with his hand.It slipped through his fingers and fell onto the babys shoulder.The scorpion stung Coyotito.

The Song of the Enemy roared in his ears.Kino cried out in rage.He pressed the scorpion between his hands.He stamped it to the ground.

Juana tried to suck out the poison from the babys wound.Coyotito kept screaming in pain.Kino stood and watched.There was nothing he could do.

The neighbours heard the babys screams.They rushed to the hut.All of them were afraid.A baby could die easily from the poison of a scorpion.

Coyotito had stopped screaming.He was crying softly now.Juana wanted a doctor to attend to Coyotito.

Everyone knew that the doctor would never come to a poor home.Juana was determined to take Coyotito to the doctor.Kino saw the determination in Juanas eyes.

The procession to the doctors house started.Juana carried Coyotito followed by Kino, Juan Tomas and his wife, Apolonia.All their neighbours and their children followed too.

The doctor lived in a big stone house with big walls and a cool garden.Kino sounded the knocker at the gate.A manservant who was of Kinos race opened the door.Kino told him about the scorpion.

The servant refused to speak in their Indian tongue.He spoke in Spanish.He closed the door and went to consult the doctor.

The doctor was in his bedroom.He was drinking hot chocolate.His bedroom was furnished luxuriously.

The servant told the doctor of Kinos request.The doctor became angry.He sent the servant to ask if Kino had money to pay for the treatment.

The servant went back and spoke to Kino.This time he spoke in the Indian language.Kino had no money.

He only had eight ugly and worthless pearls.The servant told Kino that the doctor had gone out.

Kino hit the gate with his hand.He was furious.The crowd melted tactfully away.

SummaryKino, his wife, Juana and his son, Coyotito, wake up in their simple hut at dawn. Suddenly, a scorpion stings Coyotito. Kino kills it. He and Juana take the baby to the doctor in the town. The whole village goes with them.The doctor refuses to see them because they have no money to pay him. Kino bangs his hand angrily on the doctors gate.

tyry