Main Idea/Theme
(Hint: the main idea has no personal opinions).
A. Odysseus is clever, which allowed him to escape Cyclops with his men.
B. Cyclops is a fool who allowed Odysseus and his men to escape.
C. Cyclops traps Odysseus and his men inside a cave. Odysseus plays a few tricks on Cyclops to prevent him from eating more of his men.
D. Cyclops is a big and scary monster who traps Odysseus and his men. Odysseus comes up with clever tricks that prevent Cyclops from eating more of his men, thus allowing them to escape.
C. Cyclops traps Odysseus and his men inside a cave. Odysseus plays a few tricks on Cyclops to prevent him from eating more of his men.
According to the paragraph below, how does Cyclops seem?
‘The Cyclops answered me from his cruel heart. “Of all his company I will eat Nobody
last and the rest before him. That shall be your gift.” (p.34)
a. Dangerous
b. Kind
c. Shy
d. Mysterious
a. Dangerous
Part 1: What is one reason Odysseus is a strong leader?
A. He lets others make decisions
B. He uses clever plans to protect his crew
C. He avoids responsibility
D. He gives up easily
Part 2: Which detail BEST supports your answer?
A. He leaves his crew behind
B. He creates a plan to escape the Cyclops
C. He refuses to think ahead
D. He ignores danger
Part 1: B. He uses clever plans to protect his crew
Part 2: B. He creates a plan to escape the Cyclops
What is the effect of Odysseus blinding the Cyclops?
A. The Cyclops helps him escape
B. The Cyclops becomes friendly
C. The Cyclops cannot see to stop their escape
D. The crew decides to stay
C. The Cyclops cannot see to stop their escape
What does treachery mean as used in the quote below?
“O my friends, it’s Nobody’s treachery, not violence, that is doing me to death” (p. 37).
A. Death
B. Violence
C. Teasing
D. Tricks
D. Tricks
Which of the following is the best theme for paragraph 35?
A. Having friends can get in the way of a plan.
B. Careful planning can lead to success.
C. Pain and suffering are a sacrifice worth making.
D. Strong hatred for someone can be damaging.
B. Careful planning can lead to success.
Which trait BEST describes Odysseus?
A. Weak
B. Clever
C. Careless
D. Fearful
B. Clever
Part 1: What does Odysseus’s behavior toward the Cyclops reveal?
A. He is always careful
B. He struggles with pride
C. He avoids danger
D. He trusts others
Part 2: Which detail BEST supports your answer?
A. He quietly escapes without speaking
B. He hides under the sheep
C. He tells the Cyclops his real name after escaping
D. He listens to his crew
Part 1: B. He struggles with pride
Part 2: C. He tells the Cyclops his real name after escaping
What is the effect of Odysseus revealing his name to the Cyclops?
A. He becomes more powerful
B. The Cyclops helps him
C. The Cyclops calls on Poseidon for revenge
D. Nothing happens
C. The Cyclops calls on Poseidon for revenge
What does the word “consequence” most likely mean?
A. A reward
B. A random event
C. The result of an action
D. A plan
C. The result of an action
What is a central theme in The Cyclops?
A. Strength is more important than intelligence
B. Clever thinking can help overcome challenges
C. Rules should always be broken
D. Friends are not important
B. Clever thinking can help overcome challenges
Which action BEST shows that Odysseus is smart?
A. He gives up during challenges
B. He tricks the Cyclops to escape
C. He hides from danger
D. He asks others to solve problems
B. He tricks the Cyclops to escape
Part 1: Why does Odysseus get into trouble after escaping the Cyclops?
A. He forgets his crew
B. He shows too much pride
C. He gets lost
D. He trusts the gods
Part 2: Which detail BEST supports your answer?
A. He quietly sails away
B. He tells the Cyclops his real name
C. He hides from danger
D. He follows instructions
Part 1: B. He shows too much pride
Part 2: B. He tells the Cyclops his real name
Based on paragraph 39, why is Odysseus proud of himself?
A. He drugged Cyclops with wine
B. He brought Cyclops a gift
C. Odysseus stabbed out Cyclops' eye
D. He gave Cyclops a false name, "Nobody."
D. He gave Cyclops a false name, "Nobody."
What does the word "fool" mean in the context of this story?
A. Odysseus is easy to trick
B. Odysseus makes mistakes that cost him his life
C. Cyclops is easy to trick
D. Cyclops makes mistakes that cost him his life
C. Cyclops is easy to trick
Which theme is BEST supported by Odysseus’s journey?
A. Pride always leads to success
B. Intelligence and patience are more important than physical strength
C. Gods never interfere with humans
D. Traveling is easy
B. Intelligence and patience are more important than physical strength
According to the quote below, how does Cyclops seem?
“Give me more, please, and tell me your name, here and now—I would like to make you a gift that will please you"(p.31).
A. Mean
B. Rude
C. Creative
D. Kind
D. Kind
Part 1: Why did Polyphemus (Cyclops) not receive help from the other Cyclopes after Odysseus and his men stabbed out his eye?
A. The other Cyclopes didn't think anyone was hurting him.
B. The other Cyclopes don't like Polyphemus (Cyclops).
C. Odysseus gave Polyphemus (Cyclops) a false name.
D. Polyphemus (Cyclops) fell asleep from the wine.
What piece of evidence best supports your answer to Part 1?
A. ‘“What on earth is wrong with you, Polyphemus? Why must you disturb the peaceful night" (p.36).
B. “O my friends, it’s Nobody’s treachery, not violence, that is doing me to death”(p.38).
C. ‘He had hardly spoken before he toppled over and fell face upwards on the floor' (p. 35).
D. "My name is Nobody. That is what I am called by my mother and father and by all my friends” (p.33).
Part 1: A. The other Cyclopes didn't think anyone was hurting him.
Part 2: B. “O my friends, it’s Nobody’s treachery, not violence, that is doing me to death”(p.38).
What causes the Cyclops to call on Poseidon?
A. Odysseus gives him food
B. Odysseus escapes quietly
C. Odysseus reveals his name
D. Odysseus stays in the cave
C. Odysseus reveals his name
What does the word “cunning” most likely mean when describing Odysseus?
A. Strong
B. Brave
C. Clever and tricky
D. Angry
C. Clever and tricky
Setting: Ancient Greece
Characters: Human and non-human
Which story does the above information apply to?
A. Both "Prometheus" and "Cyclops"
B. Neither "Prometheus" nor "Cyclops"
C. "Prometheus"
D. "Cyclops"
A. Both "Prometheus" and "Cyclops"
Part 1: Which statement BEST explains how Odysseus is portrayed in paragraph 39?
A. He is overconfident and careless in dangerous situations
B. He is both intelligent and flawed, showing confidence while facing serious danger
C. He is completely focused on helping others and ignores himself
D. He is unsure of what to do and relies on others for ideas
Part 2: Which detail BEST supports your answer?
A. “I laughed to myself…”
B. “The Cyclops… pushed the rock away…”
C. “I was cudgelling my brains… trying to hit on some way of saving my friends as well as myself”
D. “He sat himself down in the doorway…”
Part 1: B. He is both intelligent and flawed, showing confidence while facing serious danger
Part 2: C. “I was cudgelling my brains… trying to hit on some way of saving my friends as well as myself”
Part 1: What does paragraph 39 reveal about Odysseus?
A. He relies only on luck
B. He panics in dangerous situations
C. He thinks carefully and plans to survive
D. He gives up when things get difficult
Part 2: Which detail BEST supports your answer?
A. “I laughed to myself…”
B. “The Cyclops… pushed the rock away…”
C. “He sat himself down in the doorway…”
D. “I was cudgelling my brains… trying to hit on some way of saving my friends”
Part 1: C. He thinks carefully and plans to survive
Part 2: D. “I was cudgelling my brains… trying to hit on some way of saving my friends”
What is one effect of Odysseus’s pride?
A. He gets home faster
B. He avoids all danger
C. He gains new friends
D. He faces more challenges on his journey
D. He faces more challenges on his journey
Read the quote from paragraph 39:
"I thought up plan after plan, scheme after scheme. It was a matter of life or death: we were in mortal peril."
What does the word "scheme" mean?
A. Coming up with a devious idea
B. A plan to help others
C. A master plan
D. Creating a system to test someone's morals
A. Coming up with a devious idea