Question

la quinceañera

1. the long - awaited day had finally arrived—sophias fifteenth birthday, and her quinceañera celebration. instead of the customary ballroom to save money—a fiesta de quince años can be quite expensive—the rosales family had decided to hold the festivities in their backyard and friends to mark her passage from childhood to adulthood. the rosales family had decided to hold the festivities in their backyard and friends to mark her passage from childhood to adulthood. 2) señora rosales put her arm around her daughter and said, \what a perfect day for a fiesta, mi hija. we couldnt have asked for better weather.\ it is perfect, thought sophia as she glanced around the backyard—everyone seemed to be having a good time chatting amongst themselves, that is, everyone except alejandra, her fourteen - year - old sister who was sulking at a table alone. 3) \hey, hermanita, why the sad face? whats wrong?\ sophia called to her sister as she walked over. \why arent you hanging out with your friends? theyve been asking about you.\ 4)

othings wrong,\ alejandra replied sullenly. \i just dont feel like socializing right now.\ 5) leaning over, sophia whispered in her sisters ear, \well, i hope you will feel like joining us soon. the dancing is about to begin, and i dont think anybody will want to dance with you with that expression on your face.\ giving alejandra a hug and a kiss, sophia returned to her friends. 6) watching her sister mingle with the crowd, alejandra thought, \she looks so radiant and so happy, as she should, so why do i feel so miserable? i know sophia loves me, but i feel so left out. i worked just as hard planning this party as everyone else, and no one seems very appreciative.\ 7) it was time for the dancing to begin, and the first dance, which symbolized that her father was the first man in her life, belonged to sophia and her papa. but first, the flat shoes she was wearing needed to be replaced with a pair of heels, signifying her entrance into society as an adult woman. together, sophias mother and father performed the ritual—her mother removed the flats from sophias feet and her father slipped the pair of heels onto her feet. then, father and daughter danced deftly around the patio to a song that sophias father had often sung to her when she was little. 8) although she knew she shouldnt feel this way, alejandra felt even more miserable. she despised herself for being so petty, but she and her father had a special song, too, and she couldnt get over her feelings of sadness knowing that tonight she wouldnt get to share it with him.
part a
how does the characterization of alejandra contribute to the theme of the story \la quinceañera\?
alejandras jealousy and later reconciliation show that love can overcome misunderstandings
alejandras reluctance to join the party shows that traditions can feel overwhelming
alejandras emotional distance shows that growing up can create separation
alejandras desire for attention shows that sibling rivalry is hard to avoid
part b
which quotation from the story best supports the answer to part a?
she looks so radiant and so happy, as she should, so why do i feel so miserable? (paragraph 6)
then, sophia and alejandra hugged, and all the resentment alejandra had been harboring during the fiesta melted away. (paragraph 13)
although she knew she shouldnt feel this way, alejandra felt even more miserable. (paragraph 8)
alejandra reluctantly joined her escort, performing the choreographed steps from memory but not from her heart. (paragraph 9)

Explanation:

In the story, Alejandra initially shows jealousy as Sophia's quinceañera seems perfect and she feels left - out. Later, the reconciliation between them, like the hug and kiss, shows that love can overcome misunderstandings. The quote "She looks so radiant and so happy, as she should, so why do I feel so miserable? (paragraph 6)" best captures her jealousy at the start which then contrasts with the later reconciliation, supporting the theme.

Answer:

She looks so radiant and so happy, as she should, so why do I feel so miserable? (paragraph 6)