Clap When You Land

Reading Check questions are designed for in-class review on key plot points or for quick verbal or written assessments. Multiple Choice and Short Answer Quizzes create ideal summative assessments, and collectively function to convey a sense of the work’s tone and themes.

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. What does Camino want to be when she grows up?

2. How does Papi pass away?

3. Who is Dre?

Multiple Choice

1. When does Camino begin to accept that her father will never return?

A) when she discovers that his plane has crashed

B) once Tía Solana delivers the news about his death

C) as she waits for him alone on the porch

D) when she sees his last message to her

2. Why is it unusual for Yahaira to be called to the principal’s office?

A) She is a model student even if she has behavioral issues.

B) She never gets caught when she does something wrong.

C) She usually meets with the vice principal about detention.

D) She never breaks the rules.

3. Why does Yahaira keep quiet about her father’s secret?

A) She does not want to cause any trouble.

B) She is afraid that he loved his other daughter more than he loved her.

C) She doesn’t want her mother to find out. 

D) She hopes that he will let her meet her sister one day.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is suggested by the fact that Tía Solana and Camino are preparing Papi’s favorite foods, despite it being Camino’s birthday?

2. Why does Papi suggest that Camino become a doctor in the Dominican Republic rather than in New York?

3. Why is it significant that members of the community come to hold vigil outside of Tía Solana and Camino’s house?

Chapters 4-7

Reading Check

1. Who teaches Yahaira to play chess?

2. When does Yahaira realize that her father was married to a woman besides her mother?

3. Where does Papi want to be buried?

Multiple Choice

1. Why did Yahaira feel distant from her father before his death?

A) He told her that she was his second favorite daughter.

B) He didn’t answer his phone after she was attacked on the subway.

C) He once called her mother by the wrong name, and Yahaira was suspicious of him.

D) He told her that he was disappointed that she stopped playing chess.

2. Why is it significant that Mamá’s friend intercepted Papi’s introduction to Camino’s mother?

A) It foreshadows how Papi will always be torn between two women.

B) It shows that Papi has moved between Mamá and Yahaira’s mother since he was young.

C) It means that Papi almost never had Camino.

D) It shows that Papi only ever had eyes for Mamá.

3. What is the most likely reason that Yahaira and Mami decide not to return to grief counseling?

A) They are distracted by the families of other victims.

B) Mami keeps thinking that she sees Camino’s mother.

C) They are exhausted by emotions brought up by the meeting.

D) Yahaira hates the meetings.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Yahaira believe that she is skilled at chess?

2. In what way does Yahaira act similarly to Camino in response to her father’s death?

3. What is suggested by the fact that Mami does not want Yahaira to go to the Dominican Republic?

Chapters 8-11

Reading Check

1. What does Yahaira leave at Papi’s memorial?

2. Who is the link between the two main families after Papi’s death?

3. With whom does Camino discuss the fact that she has a sister?

Multiple Choice

1. Why does Yahaira begin to suspect that Mami knows about Papi’s other family?

A) Mami makes a reference to Camino.

B) Mami pulls Tío Jorge aside to ask about how much will be given to the Dominican Republic.

C) Mami decides to go to the Dominican Republic.

D) Mami ignores Tío Jorge’s advice to sue the airplane.

2. What is Camino most concerned about when Tía Solana tells her about her father’s other family?

A) that she has a sister

B) that the airline money is her only way out of the Dominican Republic

C) that her father has been lying to her for her whole life

D) that Tía Solana has known about this lie the whole time

3. Why does Mami give Wilson so much money for his wedding?

A) She is his godmother and wants to support his future.

B) She believes that giving money to her family members will repair their relationship.

C) She doesn’t want anything to do with the airline money since the airline killed Papi.

D) She hopes that he will take care of Yahaira.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What does El Cero mean when he tells Camino that another man was asking about her home address?

2. Why does Camino feel guilty about reaching out to Yahaira?

Chapters 12-15

Reading Check

1. How does Yahaira respond to Camino’s friend request?

2. How is Yahaira able to purchase a flight to the Dominican Republic?

3. Who does Camino believe owned her sneakers before her?

Multiple Choice

1. Why does Camino feel overwhelmed by Yahaira’s message, despite being the one to send the initial request?

A) Yahaira suggests video chatting and sends a bunch of questions.

B) Camino never expected Yahaira to respond to her.

C) Camino has changed her mind about reaching out to Yahaira, but it is too late.

D) Yahaira insists that Papi loved her more.

2. Through what lens does Yahaira think about Papi’s two worlds?

A) She thinks of it like a flight plan.

B) She thinks of it like a language.

C) She thinks of it like chess.

D) She thinks of it like subway lines.

3. Why does Camino resent the ease with which Yahaira can travel internationally?

A) She feels like Yahaira was Papi’s favorite daughter.

B) She cannot travel or access travel so easily, although she wants to.

C) She believes that Yahaira is a spoiled child.

D) She is jealous that Yahaira has her mother still.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What had Yahaira believed was the source of the distance between Mami and Papi?

2. What was the difference between Papi’s relationship with Mami and his relationship with Camino’s mother?

3. Why does Yahaira have a passport?

Chapters 16-19

Reading Check

1. How much money does Camino ask Yahaira to send?

2. Why does Camino light a candle for Yahaira?

3. How is Yahaira able to sneak away from home?

Multiple Choice

1. How does Yahaira keep herself from crying during Papi’s wake?

A) She thinks about her trip to the Dominican Republic.

B) She thinks about his advice to keep her composure while playing chess.

C) She leans on Dre.

D) She thinks about what her mother is going through.

2. What is the implication of Yahaira’s realization that her father’s plane crash will always stay with her?

A) It implies that Yahaira is terrified of flying now that her father died this way.

B) It implies that Yahaira will never get over her father’s death.

C) It implies that events like that have lasting effects on one’s identity.

D) It implies that airline security is willing to be flexible when tragedy arises.

3. Why does Camino need the money from the airline settlement?

A) to pay Tía Solana back for caring for her

B) to pay her school bills

C) to leave Puerto Plata

D) to pay off El Cero

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. During their video call, what does Yahaira notice about Camino?

2. How is tension building in Camino’s life before Yahaira arrives?

3. How is Yahaira able to get through the airport without flying with a guardian?

Chapters 20

Reading Check

1. Who tells Mami where Yahaira is?

2. Why does Camino initially plan to take Yahaira’s passport?

3. Who does Camino suggest take over for her as Tía Solana’s apprentice?

Multiple Choice

1. From whom does Yahaira learn about clapping when you land?

A) Mami

B) Papi

C) the taxi driver from the airport

D) the flight attendant

2. Why does Camino snap at Yahaira when she tells her about El Cero?

A) She does not believe that Yahaira could have experienced the same dangers.

B) She doesn’t want to talk about him anymore.

C) She doesn’t think that Yahaira cares about her.

D) She wants Yahaira to want to leave.

3. By whom does Mami feel betrayed, besides Papi?

A) Yahaira

B) Tía Solana

C) Camino

D) Camino’s mother

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How is Yahaira able to quell her anger at Camino?

2. What changes Camino’s mind about her plan?

3. How is Mami able to convince El Cero to stay away from Camino?