Signs Preceding the End of the World

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. A switchboard operator (Chapter 1)

2. By “carrying messages” (Chapter 1)

3. So she does not get “captivated” by the city (Chapter 2)

4. Because Mr. Aitch convinced him that Makina’s family owned land in the North (Chapter 2)

5. A bloated corpse with “the eyes and tongue pecked out by buzzards” (Chapter 3)

6. Because there were no cell towers in the village (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. “You don’t lift other people’s petticoats. You don’t stop to wonder about other people’s business. You don’t decide which messages to deliver and which to let rot. You are the door, not the one who walks through it.” As a result, Makina is well-respected in the village. (Chapter 1)

2. Makina visits Mr. Double-U to help her cross the border, Mr. Aitch to help her locate her brother, and Mr. Q so she can cross the border again to return home. (Chapter 1)

3. After the long bus journey, Makina reaches the border town where she finds a hostel. As she waits for Mr. Double-U’s contact, she uses her knowledge of English to help the boys who sexually assaulted her on the bus. (Chapter 2)

4. Chucho is Mr. Double-U’s contact at the border town. As they cross the river to the other side, the boat capsizes; however, he is able to rescue her and bring her to the other side. (Chapter 2)

5. Chucho and Makina are discovered by both a rancher and border control agents. Chucho wrestles the gun from the rancher; however, he is caught and arrested. As Makina escapes, she is shot through the ribs. (Chapter 3)

6. Makina has packed light for her trip: a flashlight, a blouse, three pairs of clean underwear, a Latin-Anglo dictionary, a picture drawn by her sister, a bar of soap, lipstick, and some snacks. She packs light because she believes she will return home soon. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. Because she is not in the village to operate the switchboard (Chapter 4)

2. At a baseball stadium (Chapter 4)

3. Because it is “malleable, erasable, permeable” (Chapter 5)

4. “[B]leak tundra” (Chapter 5)

5. A construction zone (Chapter 5)

6. In an ATM booth (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. Makina reflects on the technology-filled life that she observes in supermarkets in the North. She believes that people are miserable with their condition. (Chapter 4)

2. Mr. P is the fourth “top-dog” from the South. She gives him the package and asks about her brother. (Chapter 4)

3. Makina’s brother describes the North as “stiff” with celebrations that are not “in honor of anyone.” His second message promises to bring things back for the family, and his third message says he is fine and has a job. (Chapter 5)

4. Makina meets the boy from the bus, and he introduces her to the woman in the restaurant. She tells Makina that they gave shelter to her brother about a year ago, until a woman came looking for help and her brother left with the woman. (Chapter 6)

5. On her journey, Makina sees a homosexual couple celebrating their wedding. She wishes the LGBTQ+ communities in her country could have the same freedom. (Chapter 6)

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Because she does not want them to know she “exists[s]” (Chapter 7)

2. So he can practice the future tense of Anglo (Chapter 7)

3. “Come on back now, we don’t expect anything from you.” (Chapter 7)

Short Answer

1. Makina’s brother was offered money and papers to pretend to be a family’s son who had just been enlisted to fight overseas. The family promised him money if he returned from fighting; however, when he returns they are surprised and do not have the promised amount. (Chapter 7)

2. Makina is stopped with a group of men from the South by a racist, taunting policeman. When the policeman discovers one of the men has a book of poems, he demands the man write a poem then and there. Although he is too scared, Makina intervenes and writes a sarcastic poem from the perspective of the “barbarians.” The policeman becomes embarrassed and leaves. (Chapter 8)

3. Makina sees Chucho in the park. He tells her he has been watching her this whole time to make sure she is safe and leads her to a doorway before bidding her goodbye. (Chapter 9)

4. Makina is given a new identity that will allow her to stay in the North. Initially panicked, she then realizes she is “ready” for this new change in her life. (Chapter 9)