Printable worksheet titled "Generalizing" that includes a story about Juan Sanchez making sombreros and questions to test understanding of generalizations.

Here is the solution to the “Generalizing” worksheet, with explanations for each answer.

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1. Which sentence is a generalization?

✔ Correct Answer: His sombreros are the most beautiful in all of Mexico.

Explanation:
A *generalization* is a broad statement that applies to many cases or an entire group — often using words like “all,” “every,” “most,” “always,” etc.
- “His sombreros are the most beautiful in all of Mexico” makes a sweeping claim about *all* sombreros in Mexico — this is a generalization.
- The other options are specific facts: “A sombrero is a Mexican hat” (definition), “My uncle makes sombreros” (personal fact), “He has been making them since he was thirteen” (specific detail).

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2. Which sentence is not a generalization?

✔ Correct Answer: He has been making them since he was thirteen years old.

Explanation:
This is a *specific personal fact* — it refers to one person’s life history. It does not make a broad claim about others or all situations.
- “Nobody can make sombreros as well as he can” → generalizes about *everyone else*.
- “He always spends a week on each sombrero” → uses “always” → generalization.
- “His sombreros are the most beautiful in all of Mexico” → again, broad claim → generalization.

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3. Which of the following words signals a generalization in the second paragraph?

✔ Correct Answer: always

Explanation:
In the second paragraph:
> “He always spends at least a week on each sombrero. Sometimes he takes more time... Either way, all of his customers are pleased...”

Words like “always,” “all,” and “everybody” signal generalizations.
- “always” = indicates a consistent, universal behavior → generalization.
- “either” = just a connector, not a generalizer.
- “sombreros” = noun, not a signal word.
- “pleased” = adjective describing emotion, not a generalization signal.

So, “always” is the best choice here.

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4. Which of the following words does not signal a generalization in the second paragraph?

✔ Correct Answer: differently

Explanation:
Let’s look at the options:
- “everybody” → generalizes to all people → generalization.
- “all” → clearly a generalization word (“all of his customers”).
- “always” → generalizes frequency → generalization.
- “differently” → describes *how* he makes each sombrero — it’s about variation, not universality. It does NOT signal a generalization; in fact, it suggests uniqueness or individuality.

So, “differently” is the correct answer — it does *not* signal a generalization.

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5. A generalization about this passage could be—

✔ Correct Answer: Juan Sanchez makes the best sombreros in all of Mexico.

Explanation:
This is the broadest, most overarching statement that summarizes the main idea of the passage — that Juan Sanchez is exceptional and unmatched in his craft across Mexico.
- “Juan Sanchez makes sombreros” → too basic, factual.
- “The author is proud of her uncle” → emotional reaction, not a generalization about the subject.
- “Juan Sanchez makes a special hat for each customer” → specific detail from paragraph 2.
- “Juan Sanchez makes the best sombreros in all of Mexico” → combines the ideas of quality (“best”), scope (“all of Mexico”), and superiority — this is the strongest generalization.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. His sombreros are the most beautiful in all of Mexico.
2. He has been making them since he was thirteen years old.
3. always
4. differently
5. Juan Sanchez makes the best sombreros in all of Mexico.

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