Grade 3AR Level 4.8

Merci Suárez Can't Dance

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Reading Comprehension Questions

by Meg Medina

14 curated questions

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Book Summary

Merci Suárez is back in seventh grade, facing new challenges like changing friendships, a first crush, and the daunting school dances where she feels she can't dance. At home, her family is dealing with financial worries and her beloved Abuelo Lolo's worsening Alzheimer's disease. As her cousin Chelsea prepares for a wedding, Merci tries to balance her Cuban heritage with fitting in at her private school, learning to embrace who she is, even if it means being a little awkward.

Reading Comprehension Questions

14 curated questions across multiple comprehension levels. Use after your child finishes the book.

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1What grade is Merci Suárez in at the beginning of the story?

Comprehensioneasy

2What is the name of the new boy Merci has a crush on?

Comprehensioneasy

3What illness is Merci's Abuelo Lolo dealing with in the story?

Comprehensionmedium

4Why do Merci's friendships with Edna and Hannah start to feel complicated?

Inferencemedium

5How do you think Merci feels about the upcoming Valentine's Dance at first?

Inferencemedium

6What can you infer about Merci's family from their actions during Chelsea's wedding and with Lolo's illness?

Inferencehard

7What does the word 'awkward' mean in the sentence: 'Merci felt very awkward when it came to dancing in front of everyone at the school dance.'?

Vocabularyeasy

8What does the word 'traditions' mean when the book talks about 'special Cuban family traditions'?

Vocabularymedium

9What does 'resilience' mean when it says Merci's family showed 'great resilience'?

Vocabularyhard

10What is a main lesson Merci learns by the end of the story about herself?

thememedium

11What is a central theme about family that Merci experiences throughout the book?

themehard

12How does Merci's understanding of herself change from the beginning to the end of the story?

analysishard

13If you were Merci, how would you feel about your Abuelo Lolo's illness and the changes it brings to your family?

discussionmedium

14Merci learns to be herself, even if she's not a perfect dancer. What is something you are good at, and something you find challenging, and how do you feel about both?

discussionmedium

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Across recall, inference, theme, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

Answer keys

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Key Vocabulary

Important words from Merci Suárez Can't Dance to discuss with your child.

awkwardcomplicatedtraditionsembarrassedresilienceauthentic

Discussion Prompts

Great open-ended questions for car rides, dinner, or read-alouds.

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1“What was your favorite part of Merci Suárez Can't Dance? Why did it stand out to you?”

2“If you could talk to any character from Merci Suárez Can't Dance, who would you choose and what would you ask them?”

3“How did Merci Suárez Can't Dance make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?”

4“Would you recommend Merci Suárez Can't Dance to a friend? What would you tell them about it?”

5“What lesson or message do you think Meg Medina wanted young readers to learn from this story?”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What reading level is Merci Suárez Can't Dance?

Merci Suárez Can't Dance by Meg Medina is recommended for grades 2-4 readers with an AR level of 4.8. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.

What are good comprehension questions for Merci Suárez Can't Dance?

ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Merci Suárez Can't Dance, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.

How can I use Merci Suárez Can't Dance for reading practice?

Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.

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