📚 Jeff Bezos Reading Questions
Innovation and Creativity - Grade 9
🤔 While Reading Questions
1. What does Bezos believe about finding one's passion and turning it into a career?
Bezos believes you should follow your passion and turn it into your career. He says "You can have a job, or you can have a career, or you can have a calling." He thinks finding your passion is the key to true success, not just making money.
2. What is the concept of "embracing the inefficiency of wandering," and why does Bezos consider it important?
Bezos believes "wandering" means taking time to explore and experiment, even if it's not efficient. He says it's important because it helps you discover new solutions and ideas. Sometimes the best discoveries come from taking the longer, less obvious path.
📝 Post-Reading Questions
1. What inspired you after reading about Mr. Bezos's achievements?
Reading about Bezos was inspiring because he shows that taking risks can lead to huge success. His story proves that following your passion and not being afraid to fail can create amazing opportunities. He started Amazon in a garage and built it into a trillion-dollar company by staying true to his vision.
2. How do you see "originality" as a student who is still studying and getting inspiration from high achievers?
As a student, originality means being yourself while learning from others. We can get inspired by successful people like Bezos, but we should use their ideas to create our own unique path. It's about taking the best lessons from high achievers and mixing them with our own interests and strengths to build something new.
📖 Jeff Bezos - Vocabulary & Critical Thinking
Innovation and Creativity Analysis
📚 Vocabulary Table
| Words/Phrases | Deduced Meaning | Dictionary Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tangential | Something that goes off topic or moves away from the main point | Diverging from a main point; not directly related to the main subject |
| high velocity decisions | Making decisions very quickly without taking too much time | Rapid decision-making; making choices at high speed with limited information |
| intuition | Making decisions based on gut feeling rather than just facts | The ability to understand or know something without conscious reasoning; instinct |
| distinctiveness | Being unique and different from others in a special way | The quality of being recognizably different; uniqueness or originality |
| suboptimal | Not the best choice; less than perfect but still acceptable | Below the optimal level; not achieving the best possible result |
| transitioned | Changed from one role or position to another | The process of changing from one state, condition, or role to another |
🤔 Reading and Critical Thinking Questions
Q1. What is the main theme of the article about Jeff Bezos?
The main theme is innovation and creativity in business. The article focuses on Bezos's best lessons for success, including taking risks, making fast decisions, following your passion, and staying original while building Amazon into a successful company.
Q2. Which of Bezos' lessons do you find most compelling, and why?
I find "Take risks" most compelling because Bezos shows that being afraid to fail will hold you back. He says you'll regret the things you didn't try more than the things that failed. This teaches us to be brave and try new things even if we might fail.
Q3. Can you think of a personal or professional situation where one of Bezos' lessons might apply?
As a student, his lesson about "finding your calling" applies when choosing subjects or career paths. Instead of just picking what seems safe or what others expect, we should explore what we're truly passionate about and turn that into our future career, just like Bezos did with his love for technology and business.
Q4. How might Bezos' advice on decision-making and risk-taking benefit someone in their career?
Bezos's advice helps people move forward faster in their careers. By making quick decisions and taking calculated risks, you can seize opportunities before others do. His "high-velocity decisions" approach means you won't get stuck overthinking every choice, and his risk-taking mindset helps you try new projects that could lead to big successes.
Q5. Do you agree with Bezos' perspective on embracing distinctiveness? Why or why not?
Yes, I agree with embracing distinctiveness because being original helps you stand out. In today's competitive world, everyone has similar skills and qualifications. What makes you successful is what makes you different and unique. However, it requires hard work to maintain your originality, as Bezos mentioned, but it's worth it for long-term success.
Prepositional Phrases Exercises
Exercise 1: Choose the correct compound preposition
a) The cat jumped over the table.
b) I'm going to the park with my friends.
c) The keys are hidden beneath the flowerpot.
d) The cookies are in the jar.
e) The restaurant is across the street.
f) The pen is beside the notebook.
g) She walked along the high street to reach the playground.
h) The bookshelf is against the wall.
i) The ball rolled down the stairs.
j) They sat near the fire to keep warm.
k) I can see the moon above the clouds.
l) The dog ran across the street to chase the squirrel.
m) She placed the vase on the shelf.
n) The car swerved around the crowd of people.
o) The bird built its nest among the tree branches.
Exercise 2: Combine the sentences using prepositional phrases
• The dog barked. The postman arrived.
The dog barked when the postman arrived.
• Jenny laughed. Her brother told a joke.
Jenny laughed after her brother told a joke.
• We bought ice cream. We went to the beach.
We bought ice cream before we went to the beach.
• She went to the store. She bought some groceries.
She went to the store to buy some groceries.
• He studied all night. He passed the exam.
He passed the exam after studying all night.
• They went to the beach. They played volleyball.
They went to the beach to play volleyball.
• I woke up late. I missed the bus.
I missed the bus because I woke up late.
• They went to the park. They had a picnic.
They went to the park for a picnic.
The Camping Trip - Questions and Answers
Story Questions
Q1. Which compound preposition describes the path they took through the forest?
The compound preposition "through" describes the path they took through the forest.
Q2. Where did they decide to set up their campsite?
They decided to set up their campsite next to a large boulder beside a sparkling river in a beautiful clearing.
Q3. When they heard a rustling sound, where did they shine their flashlights?
They shined their flashlights toward the noise and saw a family of raccoons searching for food.
Q4. What did Sarah place beside the raccoons?
Sarah placed leftover sandwiches beside the raccoons.
Q5. How did the raccoons disappear from the campsite?
The raccoons scurried away from the campsite and disappeared into the darkness.
Fill in the Blanks - Compound Prepositions
1. Tom and his friends walked through the dense forest.
2. They arrived at a clearing beside the sparkling river.
3. They set up their campsite next to a large boulder.
4. At night, they heard a rustling sound across from the bushes.
5. They shined their flashlights toward the noise.
6. Sarah found some sandwiches inside her backpack.
7. She placed them beside the raccoons.
8. The raccoons scurried away from the campsite.
9. They disappeared into the darkness.
10. In the morning, they woke up to a sunrise above the treetops.
Analysis Questions
Q1. Why do you think the author used the compound preposition "next to" to describe the campsite's location beside the boulder? How does it contribute to the imagery and atmosphere of the story?
The author used "next to" to create a sense of closeness and security. It suggests the campers chose a strategic location where the boulder would provide shelter and protection. This compound preposition contributes to a cozy, safe atmosphere and helps readers visualize the campsite's intimate setting in nature.
Q2. Consider the compound preposition "into" when describing the raccoons' disappearance into the darkness. What does this choice of preposition convey about the raccoons' actions and the mood of the scene?
The compound preposition "into" suggests complete immersion and disappearance. It conveys that the raccoons didn't just move away but were completely absorbed by the darkness, creating a sense of mystery and the wild nature of the forest. This adds to the nighttime atmosphere and emphasizes how quickly wildlife can vanish in their natural habitat.
Q3. In the sentence "They walked through the dense forest," what does the compound preposition "through" imply about the nature of the forest and the difficulty of the journey?
"Through" implies that the forest was thick and challenging to navigate. It suggests the campers had to push their way past trees, bushes, and obstacles rather than walking around them. This preposition conveys the difficulty of the journey and the dense, wild nature of the forest they had to traverse.
Q4. The phrase "above the treetops" is used to describe the sunrise. How does this compound preposition create a vivid mental image of the sunrise and its significance to the story's conclusion?
"Above the treetops" creates a majestic image of the sunrise appearing over the forest canopy. It suggests elevation, beauty, and a new beginning. This compound preposition emphasizes the breathtaking view and marks the peaceful conclusion of their adventure, contrasting with the mysterious night and showing the reward of their camping experience.
Q5. If you were to rewrite a part of the story using a different compound preposition, how would it change the meaning or atmosphere of that particular scene? Choose a sentence from the story and explain the impact of this change.
Original: "They set up their campsite next to a large boulder."
Rewritten: "They set up their campsite far from a large boulder."
This change would completely alter the atmosphere. Instead of seeking shelter and security near the boulder, they would be choosing isolation and exposure. The campsite would feel more vulnerable and less protected, changing the cozy, safe feeling to one of openness and potential danger in the wilderness.
Rewritten: "They set up their campsite far from a large boulder."
This change would completely alter the atmosphere. Instead of seeking shelter and security near the boulder, they would be choosing isolation and exposure. The campsite would feel more vulnerable and less protected, changing the cozy, safe feeling to one of openness and potential danger in the wilderness.
Conjunctions and Transitional Devices Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with Conjunctions
1. I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining heavily.
2. She studied hard for the exam, because she was determined to succeed.
3. He is allergic to peanuts, so he always checks food labels.
4. I was tired, but I stayed up late to finish my assignment.
5. He wanted to buy the car, although he couldn't afford it.
Exercise 2: Combine Sentences Using Transitional Devices
1. a) The weather was cold. b) We decided to go for a hike.
Although the weather was cold, we decided to go for a hike.
2. a) She forgot her umbrella. b) She got soaked in the rain.
She forgot her umbrella; consequently, she got soaked in the rain.
3. a) He missed the bus. b) He was late for the meeting.
He missed the bus; therefore, he was late for the meeting.
Exercise 3: Paragraph Analysis
Transitional Devices Identified:
- On one hand - contrast/comparison
- However - contrast
- Despite - contrast/concession
- By staying organized - means/method
- Ultimately - conclusion/result
How These Devices Guide the Reader:
These transitional devices help create a logical flow by showing relationships between ideas. "On one hand" introduces one perspective, "however" presents a contrasting view, "despite" acknowledges challenges while maintaining the main argument, and "ultimately" provides a conclusive statement that ties everything together.
Main Sections and Transitions:
Section 1: Excitement about high school (introduced by "On one hand")
Section 2: Challenges and responsibilities (introduced by "However")
Section 3: Solutions and positive outcomes (introduced by "Despite" and concluded with "Ultimately")
Impact on Understanding:
The text's organization helps readers follow the balanced argument about transitioning to high school. The transitions signal shifts between positive and negative aspects, making the content easier to comprehend and creating a well-structured discussion of the topic.
Correlative Conjunctions Examples
Either...or: Either go big or go home.
Not only...but also: They stole not only the TV but also the satellite dish.
Both...and: It was neither big nor clever.
Not...but: The light was not green but red.
Rewritten Paragraph with Different Transitional Devices
Original: "On one hand" → "However" → "Despite" → "Ultimately"
Alternative: "Although" → "Nonetheless" → "In spite of" → "In the end"
Effect on Flow and Style:
Using different transitional devices would create a more formal tone. "Although" provides a softer contrast than "on one hand," while "nonetheless" maintains the opposing view more diplomatically than "however." "In the end" offers a more conversational conclusion than "ultimately," making the paragraph feel less academic and more approachable.
Correlative Conjunctions Exercise
Complete the sentences with correct correlative conjunctions:
i. Both John and Adam showed up at the party.
ii. When the rain stopped then the sun came out.
iii. Sarah can speak both English and Spanish.
iv. I will either play video games or watch TV tonight.
v. Both Sam and Tom want to be the team captain.
vi. Whether you can join us for dinner, or let us know in advance.
vii. Whether we go hiking or swimming, I'll be happy.
viii. Mary enjoys both reading novels and watching movies.
ix. Tim will either eat pizza or have a burger for dinner.
x. Both my friend and my brother knows the answer to that question.
xi. She is both beautiful and intelligent.
xii. Either the concert or the movie was cancelled due to bad weather.
xiii. The team won because the players played with determination.
xiv. I want to either go to the beach or stay at home and read a book.
xv. Both eating fruits and drinking lots of water is essential for health.
xvi. She can't either play the piano or the guitar.
xvii. He is not only just an actor but also a talented singer as well.
xviii. I'm either running late or stuck in traffic.
xix. The movie was more interesting than confusing.
xx. Both my sister and my brother likes pizza.
xxi. We can either take the subway or a taxi to reach the station on time.
xxii. Both my parents and my teacher can attend the meeting.
xxiii. Both Mary and John were able to solve the math problem.
xxiv. I will either buy a new phone or get my old one repaired.
xxv. The dog is either asleep or awake.
xxvi. Whether you like or you dislike, it's important to respect others' opinions.
xxvii. We can either go for a walk or watch a movie at home.
xxviii. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold today.
xxix. Both exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet if you want to stay healthy.
xxx. She couldn't either swim or dance at the party.
