TurkeysTurkeysby Bailey Whiteby Bailey White

ReviewReview

1.1. Where do the events in Where do the events in “Turkeys” take place?“Turkeys” take place?

The setting is the The setting is the author’s home in author’s home in the 1950s.the 1950s.

2. What problem 2. What problem threatens the threatens the wild turkey at this wild turkey at this time?time?

Wild turkeys are in Wild turkeys are in danger of danger of extinction.extinction.

3. Why are ornithologists 3. Why are ornithologists around around the author’s home? the author’s home? They first came to They first came to

photograph a rare photograph a rare species of species of woodpecker that has woodpecker that has come to a birdfeeder come to a birdfeeder at the author’s at the author’s home. Then they home. Then they stayed to study wild stayed to study wild turkeys in the area.turkeys in the area.

4. What event brings the 4. What event brings the wild wild turkey and the author turkey and the author together?together?

The author’s The author’s illness and the illness and the abandonment of abandonment of the turkey eggs the turkey eggs bring them bring them together.together.

5. Why is the author’s 5. Why is the author’s fever fever important to the important to the ornithologists?ornithologists? The ornithologists The ornithologists

need the author’s need the author’s feverish body to feverish body to help the eggs help the eggs hatch.hatch.

6. What is amusing about 6. What is amusing about the the solution to the solution to the ornithologists’ ornithologists’ problem? problem? It is amusing that It is amusing that

the ornithologists the ornithologists make use of the make use of the author’s illness.author’s illness.

7. Why does the mother 7. Why does the mother turkey turkey abandon her eggs? abandon her eggs?

The ornithologists The ornithologists scare away the scare away the mother turkey mother turkey when they camp in when they camp in the woods to the woods to protect her nest protect her nest from predators and from predators and take pictures.take pictures.

8. How do you think White 8. How do you think White feels feels when she watches the when she watches the turkeys take turkeys take off? off? White is joyful White is joyful

when she sees the when she sees the turkeys take off turkeys take off because she because she realizes that it is realizes that it is natural for them to natural for them to leave.leave.

9. List three details from 9. List three details from the essay the essay that help determine the that help determine the main idea.main idea. During the 1950s, the big concern of During the 1950s, the big concern of

ornithologists in the area was the wild turkey.ornithologists in the area was the wild turkey. When the author was six years old, she When the author was six years old, she

caught the measles.caught the measles. The ornithologists came up with a clever plan The ornithologists came up with a clever plan

to hatch the eggs by tucking them next to the to hatch the eggs by tucking them next to the author’s feverish body. author’s feverish body.

10. What is the main idea 10. What is the main idea of this of this essay? essay?

The narrator still The narrator still feels connected to feels connected to the wild turkeys the wild turkeys she saved.she saved.

11. In a chart like the one 11. In a chart like the one shown, list shown, list cultural and historical cultural and historical factors that factors that may have influenced may have influenced White’s White’s writing of “Turkeys.” writing of “Turkeys.”Time and PlaceTime and Place Cultural Cultural

BackgroundBackgroundWorld EventsWorld Events

Georgia in the 1950sGeorgia in the 1950s Her mother was a Her mother was a naturalist, and her naturalist, and her home was often home was often visited by visited by ornithologists. ornithologists.

Species of turkeys Species of turkeys were facing were facing extinction in the area.extinction in the area.

12. What do 12. What do ornithologists study?ornithologists study?

Ornithologists are Ornithologists are people who study people who study birds.birds.

Click Picture

13. Contrast wild turkeys 13. Contrast wild turkeys with with domestic turkeys. domestic turkeys.

Wild turkeys fly Wild turkeys fly higher and faster higher and faster than domestic than domestic turkeys.turkeys.

DilutionDilution

Process of weakening by mixing with Process of weakening by mixing with something elsesomething else

Demise

End of existence; death

MethodsMethods

Ways of doing somethingWays of doing something

SensibleSensible

Wise; intelligentWise; intelligent

Descendants

A person’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on

VigilanceVigilance

WatchfulnessWatchfulness