Character Traits
Which of the following best describes Jack's response to challenges?
A) He avoids challenges whenever possible.
B) He faces challenges head-on and remains focused on his goal.
C) He complains but eventually works through challenges.
D) He gives up easily when faced with a challenge.
B) He faces challenges head-on and remains focused on his goal
What does the fact that Jack waits for hours without pay suggest about the story’s conflict?
A) Jack enjoys wasting time
B) Jack values respect more than money
C) Jack is willing to take risks for the chance to earn
D) Jack has nowhere else to go
C) Jack is willing to take risks for the chance to earn
What does the phrase “The day dragged on” suggest about Jack’s experience?
A) It was easy
B) It was exciting
C) It felt very long and slow
D) It passed quickly
C) It felt very long and slow
What does "alacrity" reveal about Jack when he agrees to watch the horse?
A) He’s angry about the task
B) He’s bored and uninterested
C) He’s eager and willing to help
D) He’s confused by the request
C) He’s eager and willing to help
What theme is best supported by Jack’s decision to wait for the gentleman?
A) Laziness leads to trouble
B) Patience and faith are often rewarded
C) Humor can lighten any situation
D) Jealousy can lead to ruin
B) Patience and faith are often rewarded
What can we infer about Jack based on his reaction to Frank Nelson's teasing?
A) Jack is easily upset and retaliates.
B) Jack ignores the teasing and remains focused.
C) Jack reacts aggressively and causes trouble.
D) Jack feels embarrassed and gives up.
B) Jack ignores the teasing and remains focused.
How does Jack show determination when he waits for the gentleman?
A) He complains loudly about the wait.
B) He stands up and leaves after a short time.
C) He patiently waits, not letting impatience overcome him.
D) He decides to go home without waiting any longer.
C) He patiently waits, not letting impatience overcome him.
Why might the author describe the horse as “snorting with impatience”?
A) To show animals can speak
B) To add humor to the scene
C) To show Jack’s imagination
D) To reflect Jack’s own waiting mood
D) To reflect Jack’s own waiting mood
In the sentence, “Jack accepted the job shrewdly,” what does "shrewdly" imply?
A) Jack was confused about the job
B) Jack carefully evaluated the opportunity
C) Jack was fearful of the gentleman
D) Jack didn’t really want to do the work
B) Jack carefully evaluated the opportunity
What motivates Jack to stay in place instead of leaving like others might?
A) His fear of the horse
B) His hunger for justice
C) His hope for honest pay and belief in doing what’s right
D) His desire to meet new people
C) His hope for honest pay and belief in doing what’s right
How does Jack's sense of responsibility affect his behavior in the passage?
A) He shirks his responsibilities and avoids work.
B) He is careless and often makes mistakes.
C) He takes responsibility seriously and strives to fulfill his duties.
D) He ignores his responsibilities and focuses on other things.
C) He takes responsibility seriously and strives to fulfill his duties.
How does the return of the gentleman affect the resolution of the story?
A) It proves Jack was wrong to wait
B) It validates Jack's patience and builds trust
C) It introduces a new conflict
D) It creates more confusion
B) It validates Jack's patience and builds trust
What does the author accomplish by describing Jack’s stomach as “growling louder than the horse”?
A) Adds tension through humor
B) Highlights Jack’s hunger and persistence
C) Shows Jack is sick
D) Emphasizes Jack’s fear
B) Highlights Jack’s hunger and persistence
If something is “impending,” what does it suggest in the story?
A) Something is currently happening
B) Something may have already happened
C) Something is likely to happen soon
D) Something is impossible to avoid
C) Something is likely to happen soon
What central message can be taken from Jack’s persistence and eventual reward?
A) Cheaters never win
B) Sometimes things work out by accident
C) Trust and hard work are often worth the risk
D) Being quiet is always best
C) Trust and hard work are often worth the risk
How does Jack's work ethic compare to the other boys mentioned in the passage?
A) He is more driven and reliable
B) He is more talkative
C) He is less interested in money
D) He is more dependent on others
A) He is more driven and reliable
What role does the horse play in advancing the plot?
A) It keeps Jack company
B) It makes Jack uncomfortable
C) It symbolizes the passage of time
D) It keeps Jack in place to fulfill the job
D) It keeps Jack in place to fulfill the job
Why use figurative language like “the sky threatened rain” in the story?
A) To create a cheerful tone
B) To explain the weather
C) To reflect the uncertain mood Jack is in
D) To foreshadow a storm
C) To reflect the uncertain mood Jack is in
What does the word “wary” mean in the context: “Jack gave a wary glance to the gentleman”?
A) Curious and impressed
B) Cautious and unsure
C) Excited and hopeful
D) Angry and resentful
B) Cautious and unsure
How do Jack’s values impact his actions throughout the story?
A) He wants revenge
B) He avoids responsibility
C) He follows through with what he believes is right
D) He tries to impress others
C) He follows through with what he believes is right
How does Jack’s decision to return to the same spot the next day show his character?
A) He is stubborn and selfish
B) He is forgetful and unfocused
C) He is hopeful and persistent
D) He is passive and careless
C) He is hopeful and persistent
How does Jack’s reaction to being paid at the end of the story show growth or development?
A) He is greedy and demands more
B) He feels disappointed with the pay
C) He is surprised but proud that he earned it
D) He decides he doesn’t want to work again
C) He is surprised but proud that he earned it
How does the description of the street as “whispering with wind” contribute to the setting?
A) It makes it feel warm and safe
B) It gives the scene a calm and eerie mood
C) It tells us it is very noisy
D) It shows a city full of people
B) It gives the scene a calm and eerie mood
How does the meaning of “grit” in the phrase “Jack showed grit” connect to the theme of perseverance?
A) It means he gave up easily
B) It shows he was unsure of himself
C) It highlights his determination and courage
D) It reveals his weakness
C) It highlights his determination and courage
Why does Jack take pride in completing his job, even before getting paid?
A) He knew others were watching him
B) He wanted to prove something to Frank Nelson
C) He was raised with a strong sense of integrity
D) He had nothing else to do
C) He was raised with a strong sense of integrity