Mr. Rodriguez thought that Constance and Silvia were joking when they
offered to turn his empty lot into a community garden.
“Besides, what will I get in return?” he asked them.
“The satisfaction of knowing that people in the neighborhood have a
beautiful place to come in nice weather,” answered Constance.
“And that they will be able to grow beautiful flowers and vegetables," added
Silvia.
"Well, I'll let you do it," said Mr. Rodriguez, “as long as you name the
garden after me."
Author's Purpose:

Which two passages in this excerpt from the death of ivan illych does leo tolstoy use to suggest that ivan ilych feels like his life is slipping away from him? "what's the use? it makes no difference," he said to himself, staring with wide-open eyes into the darkness. "death. yes, death. and none of them knows or wishes to know it, and they have no pity for me. now they are playing." (he heard through the door the distant sound of a song and its accompaniment.) "it's all the same to them, but they will die too! fools! i first, and they later, but it will be the same for them. and now they are merry . . the beasts! " anger choked him and he was agonizingly, unbearably miserable. "it is impossible that all men have been doomed to suffer this awful horror! " he raised himself. "something must be wrong. i must calm myself—must think it all over from the beginning." and he again began thinking. "yes, the beginning of my illness: i knocked my side, but i was still quite well that day and the next. it hurt a little, then rather more. i saw the doctors, then followed despondency and anguish, more doctors, and i drew nearer to the abyss. my strength grew less and i kept coming nearer and nearer, and now i have wasted away and there is no light in my eyes.

When i was four years old, my dad and i a tree in our front yard. it was a tiny, fragile sapling. he promised me that it would grow tall and strong, but he said that i had to be patient. until i turned 18 years old, dad and i it every year on my birthday. choose the words that correctly fill in the blanks.

Ihave only a christmas cards left to write. a. few b. fewer c. less d. little