Name:
Period:
“Does America Still Exist” Reading Guide
While You Read:
Paragraph #1
1. What do you think Rodriguez meant by “knowledge”? What question is he answering?
2. Describe how you think “French Fries and popcorn” are associated with “America.”
Paragraph #2
3. Where and when did Richard Rodriguez grow up?
4. What color is most associated with being American? Why? Is this a false association?
Paragraph #3
5. Why do you think Rodriguez did not “dare” to tell people he was “an American”?
Paragraph #4
6. Why does Rodriguez say that immigrants come to America?
7. In your opinion, why do immigrants come today?
8. When Rodriguez says that children of immigrant parents are supposed to “perch on a hyphen,” what do you think
he is referring to? (Hint: Think of how people are classified as a certain nationality).
Paragraph #5
9. What, to Rodriguez, is the “American story”?
10. What are your roots? Can you still speak the language of your grandparents?
Paragraph #6
11. How do you think America can exist as a “grin,” “faith,” or a “shrug”? What do you think Rodriguez means by
saying those things are American?
Paragraph #7
12. Rodriguez says that even though we are a “United” country, we are still very separate, and “We stand together,
alone.” Do you think that is true of our society today? In your opinion, are we divided or united in this country?
Paragraph #8
13. What does Rodriguez say America is still, and what does it have to overcome to stay that way?
Paragraph #9
14. How does Rodriguez draw a comparison between the rural and city life in America? Do you agree with his
statement about “the city?”
Paragraph #11
15. How, to Rodriguez, are America and Mexico different? How do those differences affect Mexican and American
culture?
Paragraph #12
16. What do you think it means to have “ethnic pride,” as Rodriguez’s friend has? Is it possible to have ethnic pride
and still be a part of a different culture? Explain your opinion.
17. Why is resistance to assimilation a part of the American culture?
Paragraph #13
18. What would happen when the children of immigrant parents would go to school in America? How do you think
this affects a family? A culture?
Paragraph #14
19. What does Rodriguez mean by “the hyphen tipped to the right?”
Paragraph #15
20. What does Rodriguez think happened to him during his years in school? What does he think happened to his
classmates? What happened as a result of this?
Paragraph #16
21. What question is pervasive in American culture?
Paragraph #17
22. What did Rodriguez say was a “great moment in the life of America’s conscience”? What images does he use to
remind us of that “great moment”?
Paragraph #18
23. What does Rodriguez mean by: “It becomes an impertinence to wonder if America still exists?” Be sure when
answering this to pay attention to the detail of still being italicized.
Paragraph #19
24. What were the struggles of the 1960s? What happened within ten years of those struggles?
25. Why is a committee a symbol of an American city?
Paragraph #20
26. What does Rodriguez mean by: “To Americans unconfident of their common identity, minority standing became
a way of asserting individuality?”
Paragraph #21
27. What do students experience when in high school? How does that change once they enter the real world?
28. Do you think ACHS is a divided or united community? Why?
Paragraph #22
29. What unites Americans?
Paragraph #23
30. Why does Rodriguez conclude the way he does? In other words, what does a white girl singing a Motown tune
represent?