Name ______________________________________ Date ____________________ Block ____________

Broken Chain by Gary Soto

Vocabulary

Word Context Definition, With
Part of Speech
Related Words
apparent Alfonso was proud
the muscles on his
stomach were
apparent.

sullen Ernie became
sullen when the
girls didnt show
up for the date.

impulse Alfonso regretted
the impulse to
clean his bike
chain.

retrieved Alfonso retrieved
the chain he had
thrown away.

emerged Alfonso emerged
from behind the
hedge to meet
Sandra




Discussion Guide

1. Who is the character introduced in the first paragraph? Name two things he
is doing to try to change his looks.




2. Why doesnt Alfonso dare to color his hair?





3. What do you learn about Alfonsos father on page 18?


4. Reread paragraphs 4, 5,and 6 on page 18. Based on these details, what can
you infer about the familys financial situation? What details support your
inference?




5. Pause at the top of page 19. List three important things you have learned
about Alfonso so far. What main idea about Alfonsos character do these
details add up to? State the main idea.





6. Pause at the last complete paragraph on page 19. Summarize what has
happened in the story so far.





7. On page 19, why does Alfonso go to the backyard?





8. What good deed does Alfonso do? What does that show about his character?






9. Summarize how Alfonso meets Sandra and how he goes about asking to see
her again.









10. Pause at the second column on page 21. Will Ernie let Alfonso borrow his
bike? Tell what you think will happen next.




11. What is the conflict between the two brothers? Identify the two things
Alfonso and Ernie are fighting over.





12. An idiom is a figure of speech- its actual meaning is different from its literal
meaning. Identify the idiom on page 22, paragraph 3. Explain what it means.




13. When Sandra said she would meet Alfonso and go bike riding with him,
everything seemed to be going well. What plot complications have made
Alfonsos situation increasingly desperate?





14. Why wont Ernie lend Alfonso his bike? What do you think of the reason?




15. Between pages 22-23, what details show that Alfonso is upset?




16. The climax is the most exciting moment in the plot, when the outcome of the
main conflict is decided. What details on page 24 describe the climax in the
story?