Study Guide Answers

Why did Kim stand before the family altar, why was she sad?
Kim stood before the family altar because she was trying to remember her father who had died when she was only 8 months old. This made her sad.

How would you describe the neighborhood in which Kim and Ana lived?

The neighborhood in which Kim and Ana lived was poor and shabby. This was revealed by the description of trash and tires, rats, and abandoned buildings.

Why did Kim plant the lima bean seeds in the vacant lot? Why did she choose this time for her project?

Having come from Vietnam’s tropical climate, Kim suffered from the relatively cool temperatures of Cleveland in April. She did not realize that it was the wrong time of year. Kim also wanted to prove to her father, that she was his daughter.


Why were Ana and Wendell important to one another?

Ana and Wendell had a friendship based on concern for each other, they were important to one another because each lived a long and had nobody else to turn to for help or company.

Why did Ana and Wendell try so hard to save Kim’s bean plants?
Ana and Wendell tried hard to save Kim’s bean plants because they saw how important the plants were to Kim; they were also moved by the child’s desire to grow in the abandoned lot.

Why did Leona want to plant goldenrod?
Leona thought it would be nice to plant a patch of goldenrod in the lot in honor of her grandmother.

What did Leona mean when she observed, “You can’t measure the distance between my block and City Hall in miles?
She meant that the poor neighborhood she lived in was far from the thoughts of the public officials, and that the gap between poor and wealthy people was very wide.


What type of work did Sam do before he retired? In what ways did he continue to work toward the same goal?
Sam used to work for organizations that sought world peace. He still worked towards that goal by encouraging friendly communication between people and deliberately ignoring their fears and prejudices.




What did Gonzalo mean when he said, “The older you are, the younger you get when you move to the United States?
He meant that for an adult who loses the ability to communicate and work, moving to this new country could mean giving up independence and authority


How did Gonzalo’s mother show that she understood Tio Juan’s needs?
By ordering her son to take Tio Juan back to the vacant lot so that he could garden; she knew that as a farmer, he yearned to make things grow.

Why did Curtis plant tomatoes in the lot?
Curtis planted tomatoes in the lot because he wanted to prove to his former girlfriend Lateesha, that he cared for her and wanted to take on adult responsibilities.


How did Curtis and Royce help each other?
Curtis helped Royce by buying him a sleeping bag and, in return Royce guarded Curtis’ tomato plants.


Why did Nora call Mr. Myles’s work in the garden “a mind altering drug?
Nora called Mr. Myles’ work in the garden “a mild altering drug” because the work excited and energized him, giving him a fresh interest in life.


Why did Maricela feel like an outcast?

Maricela felt like an outcast because as a pregnant, Mexican teenager she embodied three stigmatized qualities.


How did Maricela become involved in the community garden?

Maricela was forced to work in the community garden when the director of her program for pregnant teenagers obtained a spot in the garden so that the girls could have practice taking care of living things.

Why was Amir critical of America?
Amir was critical of America because he believed that people here, unlike in his village in India, avoided making new friendships. People did not seem neighborly, preferring to remain independent of others.


How did the garden change Amir’s perception of America?

The cooperative spirit and friendliness that the garden developed among neighbors who were once non communicative changed Amir’s perception of America.