English 1 SE reading Guide: Keeper

Reading Guide: Keeper, Mal Peet
Genre: Multicultural/Sports fiction
In an interview with a young journalist, world cup hero, El Gato, describes his youth in the Brazilian rain forest and the events, experiences, and people that helped make him a great goalkeeper and renowned soccer star.
1. Who is Paul Faustino? (page 1)
2. Who is Paul interviewing? What is his name? (pages 2-3)
3. El Gato grew up in south America where the whole place was obsessed with soccer. When he was a kid they all got together in the afternoons and played soccer. How does Gato describe his ability? (page 4)
4. What did they call El Gato? Why? (page 5)
5. Why did Gato decide to give up playing soccer? How old was he? (page 5)
6. Why did Gato keep going back into the forest? What point does Gato tell Paul he must get across to his readers? (page 14)
7. How does Gato respond when Paul says: “And you found it, this thing you were looking for?” (page 15)
8. What was Gato afraid of? (page 16)
9. What did Gato find in the forest? (page 17)
10. Who does Gato See? (page 18)
11. What does the Keeper say to Gato? How does he react? (page 19)
12. What does Gato’s uncle tell him about the forest? (page 23)
13. Why has the Keeper brought El Gato into the forest? (page 25)
14. What does the Keeper mean by “reading the body”? (page 27)
15. El Gato’s family begins to worry about him? What does he tell his mom? (page 39)
16. What does El Gato do to convince his parents that he is exploring? What do his parents do to help him? (page 37)
17. What plans do Gato’s parents have for his future? (pages 39-40)
18. Why did Gato hate the Keeper at times? (page 41)
19. Due to the Keeper’s discipline, what changes does Gato notice in himself? (page 42)
20. The Keeper tells Gato he is the spider. What does he mean? (page 46)
21. Why does Paul question Gato’s mentl health? (page 49)
22. What does the Keeper tell Gato about the way he is collecting the ball? (page 61)
23. Why was Gato having so much trouble getting the play right? (page 63)
24. What changes happened in Gato’s life when he turned 15? (page 73)
25. Where did Gato’s dad get him a job? (page 76)
26. Gato’s dad was very proud that he had secured a job for his son. Gato felt no gratitude because he saw himself as what? (page 77)
27. Who is Senor Hellman? (page 79)
28. Who is Estevan? (page 81)
29. On Saturday they all stopped working at midday. Where did they go? (page 87)
30. Joa (the Butcher) used to play soccer in the plaza, what kind of a player is he? (page 88)
31. Who was the referee? (page 88)
32. During the informal games with his fellow workers Gato played goalkeeper. Why did he have so much trouble reading the play? (page 90)
33. How did Gato stop the butcher? (page 93)
34. The Butcher was out to get Gato. How did Gato protect himself? (page 95)
35. Gato read the players body, he knew where the ball was going. What happened that he had not considered? (page 99)
36. How did he make the save? (page 100)
37. What happened the next day when Gato saw the Keeper? (page 104)
38. The Keeper tells Gato to be the penalty taker. Gato tell him that he can’t beat because the Keeper always knows what he is thinking. The Keeper tells him to think of something he cannot image. What does Gato do? (pages 105-106)
39. What does Estevan give to Gato? What does he tell him about the number? (page 108)
40. Why was Gato trembling? (page 109)
41. What does Gato realize about himself and the Keeper? (pages 113-114)
42. The Keeper tells Gato that they don’t have much time left. What is he talking about? (pages 114-115)
43. Gato tells the Keeper that he still doesn’t know what to do about the out swinging corner. What does the Keeper tell him? (page 115)
44. What does the Keeper say when Gato asks him where he is going? (page 116)
45. Three vehicles pull while the workers are waiting to get their pay. Why have these people come? (page 119)
46. Who is Larsson? What happened to him? (pages 124-125)
47. How did Gato lose the game? (pages 130-131)
48. Who came to Gato’s house later that day? (pages 134-135)
49. What does Larsson tell Gato abut his goaltending? (pages 135-136)
50. Why are these people at Gato’s house? (page 136)
51. What does Gato’s mother tell Senora da Silva? (page 137)
52. How does Gato’s dad respond? (page 138)
53. Acuna speaks directly to Gato’s mom. What does he tell her? (pages 139-140)
54. What does Gato say when Senora da Silva asks him what he is? (page 141)
55. What does Uncle Feliciano tell Gato’s dad? (page 145)
56. Gato says he has so much to learn. What does the keeper tell him?
57. When Gato went back for his father’s funeral he returned to the forest to find the Keeper. Did he find him? Did he ever speak to the Keeper again? (page 157)
58. Paul asks Gato is he learned anything that first year. What does Gato tell him? (page 160)
59. Gato took Pablo’s place in a Cup tie because Pable fractured his collarbone. What did Pablo say about Gato’s goaltending? (page 162)
60. Ramos was Pablo’s substitute goalie. How did Ramos react when he saw Gato wearing Pablo’s shirt? (page 162)
61. What happened when Gato went walking in the park? (page 164)
62. Why does Gato think that Ramos is behind this incident? (page 165)
63. Why didn’t Gato go off and play soccer in Europe? (page 166)
64. Paul has files on Gato’s soccer career. He pulls out a photo of Gato lifting the European Cup above his head. Paul tells Gato he is going to use the photo in his article. How does Gato react? (pages 169-170)
65. How did Gato’s father die? (page2 177-179)
66. Paul and Gato are watching a video of the World Cup Final. Gato tells Paul that he cheated. How did he cheat? (page 192)
67. How did Gato put another scoring option in Mann’s head? (page 193)
68. At the end of the interview Gato tells Paul that he doesn’t want any of what he has said to appear in the newspaper. What does he want Paul to do? (page 205)
69. What is the exclusive information that Gato gives Paul? (page 209)
70. How does Gato respond when Paul tells him he has years left? (page 212)
71. Why is Gato convinced this is the right time to leave soccer? (page 214)
72. Who are the Lost Ones? (page 216)
73. What happens during Gato’s last visit to the Keeper? (pages 222-223)