Narration
Read the excerpt from The Land.
I gave him one. "He's got no hold," I said. Mitchell looked at me, then kept on with what he was doing.
Ray Sutcliffe smiled. "Well, you ride for me today, and I'll make it worth your while."
I glanced at Mitchell and took my time before I asked, "Mister Sutcliffe, what're you figuring as worth my while?"
This dialogue advances the plot of the story by showing that Sutcliffe
A.) will offer Mitchell money to ride his horse.
B.) will pay Paul to ride his horse.
C.) is not willing to negotiate with Paul.
D.) is suspicious of Paul’s motives.
B.) will pay Paul to ride his horse.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
Mister Ray Sutcliffe from Alabama did not look pleased. "All right. All right. I'm going to pay you what you asking, this four times a rider's wages—but only if you win, you hear? You lose, boy, and you get nothing."
I was taking a big risk with my daddy, to walk away with nothing for it. But I figured I'd struck the best deal I could with Ray Sutcliffe, and despite the risk, there was something in me that wanted to prove to my daddy not only that I could ride this stranger's horse, but that I was a man now. I nodded. "I understand," I said. "But if he wins, I'll need my money right after the race."
What does this dialogue reveal about Paul?
A.) He is naive about business.
B.) He is confident in his abilities.
C.) He is afraid of his father.
D.) He is cautious in his decision-making.
B.) He is confident in his abilities.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
We looked at each other then. We both knew there was little our daddy ever changed his mind about. We knew, too, our daddy figured sending us off to school was what was best; still I couldn't help but feel something was being wedged between Robert and me.
This narration reveals that Paul thinks being sent to a different school than Robert will
A.) be difficult for Robert.
B.) ruin their relationship with their father.
C.) be beneficial for both of them.
D.) change their relationship.
D.) change their relationship.
Which excerpt from The Land, Part 4 is an example of direct characterization of Paul’s father?
A.) My daddy always liked to have his horses near. Beyond the pasturelands where the horses and cattle grazed were the forests.
B.) I remember my daddy got real quiet. If I just hadn't added that last bit, maybe he would have taken the time to talk more to me.
C.) My daddy decided to take Robert simply because Robert was his son. Everybody knew he would be of no real help with the horses...
D.) I'll never forget the look on my daddy right then. There was temper in him and he could have given me a good walloping right there...
D.) I'll never forget the look on my daddy right then. There was temper in him and he could have given me a good walloping right there...
Read the excerpt from The Land.
"Well, Mister Sutcliffe, I know what a rider's pay is around here, and it's not worth losing my job because of it. My boss told me not to ride a horse that's not his, so I know I'd be in real trouble with him if I did. No, sir, I thank you for your offer, but I don't figure to risk my job for just rider's pay."
This dialogue advances the plot of the story by showing that Paul
A.) is concerned that Sutcliffe will contact his father.
B.) does not tell Sutcliffe that Mr. Logan is his father.
C.) does not want to ride Sutcliffe’s horse in the race.
D.) is intimidated by Sutcliffe’s actions.
C.) does not want to ride Sutcliffe’s horse in the race.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
"I have to finish brushing down these horses first," I said.
Ray Sutcliffe's face took on a look of exasperation. "What? You got a race to tend to, boy!"
"I'm sorry, Mister Sutcliffe, but I told Mister Logan I'd brush these horses down for him, and he taught me a long time ago to do what I say I'm going to do."
What does this dialogue reveal about Paul?
A.) He does not always keep his word.
B.) He is easily intimidated by Sutcliffe.
C.) He enjoys working with Mitchell.
D.) He takes his responsibilities seriously.
D.) He takes his responsibilities seriously.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
At first I just walked the grey, letting him get used to me. Then I bridled and saddled him and finally I mounted. I let him get accustomed to my weight on his back as he walked around the pasture, then knowing our time was short, I put him through paces, first a trot followed by a gallop before slowing him down and taking him back to the cool of a shade tree. I gave him more apple wedges. I let him drink from a stream nearby before I brushed him again. All the while I never stopped talking to him.
What is the purpose of this narration?
A.) to explain how Paul gets to know Sutcliffe’s horse
B.) to provide backstory about Paul’s history with horses
C.) to explain Paul’s motivation for participating in the horse race
D.) to provide backstory about how Paul learned to ride horses
A.) to explain how Paul gets to know Sutcliffe’s horse
Read the excerpt from The Land, Part 1.
We shared everything together. Back then, Robert was always on my side. "They got no business beating on you," Robert said, expressing my sentiments exactly.
"That's what I figure too," I said.
"We'll take care of 'em tomorrow," Robert promised.
What do Robert’s words and actions show about Robert?
A.) He feels sad about Paul’s situation.
B.) He feels angry at Paul for starting a fight.
C.) He feels close to his brother, Paul.
D.) He feels distant from his brother, Paul.
C.) He feels close to his brother, Paul.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
I shrugged, as if that was the best I could do for him. "I figure I lose my job, I can get along on that for a while 'til I find another one. Can't do it for less."
Mister Ray Sutcliffe from Alabama did not look pleased. "All right. All right. I'm going to pay you what you asking, this four times a rider's wages—but only if you win, you hear? You lose, boy, and you get nothing."
This dialogue advances the plot of the story by showing that Paul
A.) is going to win the race.
B.) is going to lose his job.
C.) will participate in the race.
D.) will earn money from Sutcliffe.
C.) will participate in the race.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
Mitchell almost smiled. "Well, don't want that. Thing is, though, Paul, this here's a dangerous-looking animal."
"Dangerous enough for me to reconsider?"
"Well, that's up to you. You the one hafta ride him."
I walked up to the grey and looked into his eyes. "I'll ride him," I decided right then for a fact. "I've got only my neck to lose and four times a rider's pay to gain."
Based on this dialogue, which statement best describes Paul?
A.) He is an adventurer.
B.) He is a risk-taker.
C.) He is a complainer.
D.) He is a worrier.
B.) He is a risk-taker.
Read this excerpt from The Land, Part 1.
There were other boys too who picked on me, but Mitchell was the worst. I recall one time in particular when I was about nine or so and I was reading beside a creek on my daddy's land, and Mitchell came up from behind me and just whopped me on the head. For no reason. Just whopped me on the head! Course I jumped up mad. "What ya do that for?" I cried.
What type of conflict does Paul experience in this excerpt?
A.) character vs. nature
B.) character vs. character
C.) character vs. self
D.) character vs. society
B.) character vs. character
Which excerpt from The Land, Part 4 is an example of direct characterization?
A.) Mitchell brought my daddy's horse, a mare by the name of Starburst, over to the field and the Missourian's folks brought down his stallion.
B.) I glanced over at the other rider. The fellow was older than I, and had the weight of a man on him.
C.) When we arrived in East Texas, we found folks from all over the South and the neighboring states at the horse fair.
D.) Afterward the Missourian congratulated my daddy and paid him the wager.
B.) I glanced over at the other rider. The fellow was older than I, and had the weight of a man on him.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
Ray Sutcliffe looked me up and down, and I knew he hadn't liked what he'd heard from me. But he gave me the leeway. "You just make sure you win. We've got less than two hours before that start."
This dialogue advances the plot of the story by telling the reader that Paul
A.) can take his time in preparing for the race.
B.) has very little time to prepare for the race.
C.) is confident that he will win the race.
D.) will not be ready when the race begins.
B.) has very little time to prepare for the race.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
"I'm ready to start getting to know him," I answered. "Not ready to mount him yet."
"Now, what you mean by that? Get on that horse."
"No, sir, I can't. You need to give me some time with him first."
"Well, I don't have none of that."
Based on this dialogue, which word best describes Mr. Sutcliffe?
A.) sorrowful
B.) understanding
C.) impatient
D.) tranquil
C.) impatient
Read this excerpt from The Land, Part 4.
I glanced over at the other rider. The fellow was older than I, and had the weight of a man on him. He glanced over at me and he grinned, but it wasn't a friendly grin; I knew he was mocking me. "Pay him no mind," said Mitchell. "He's all teeth, nothin' else."
What type of conflict does Paul describe in this excerpt?
A.) character vs. character
B.) character vs. self
C.) character vs. society
D.) character vs. nature
A.) character vs. character
Read the excerpt from The Land, Part 2.
None of us spoke right up. I knew that was because we all had the same fear. My daddy's voice was soft, but we knew his mind. That was his prized horse standing there bleeding, and we knew he wasn't about to take that lightly.
What does this excerpt tell the reader about Paul?
A.) He is angry at his father.
B.) He cares about his father.
C.) He is scared of his father.
D.) He is worried about his father.
C.) He is scared of his father.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
"Well, who's going to be your rider?" asked the man of my daddy.
My daddy looked at me. "This boy Paul here."
The man gave me a look-over and said, "He seems a bit mite to me."
My daddy nodded, as if he hadn't considered that. "Could be you're right. He sits a horse well, though."
This dialogue advances the plot of the story by setting up a situation in which
A.) Mr. Sutcliffe sees who Paul’s father is.
B.) Paul and Mr. Sutcliffe argue.
C.) Mr. Sutcliffe will see Paul ride.
D.) Paul is injured while riding.
C.) Mr. Sutcliffe will see Paul ride.
Read the excerpt from The Land.
"I'm ready to start getting to know him," I answered. "Not ready to mount him yet."
"Now, what you mean by that? Get on that horse."
"No, sir, I can't. You need to give me some time with him first."
"Well, I don't have none of that."
"It's important. Now, I said I'd ride your horse, Mister Sutcliffe, but I've got my own way of dealing with horses. You want me to win, then I've got to deal with this grey my way."
Based on this dialogue, which word best describes Paul’s approach to riding a new horse?
A.) overbearing
B.) carefree
C.) methodical
D.) informal
C.) methodical
In The Land, Part 1, how does Paul try to stop Mitchell from bullying him?
A.) Paul asks his brothers to talk to Mitchell.
B.) Paul asks Mitchell’s mother to talk to her son.
C.) Paul confronts Mitchell about their conflict.
D.) Paul confronts Mitchell’s brothers about his behavior.
A.) Paul asks his brothers to talk to Mitchell.
Read the excerpt from The Land, Part 1.
George looked at me dead center. "You tell our daddy about this?" One thing I liked about my brother George was that he laid things right on the line; he said exactly what was on his mind. On the surface he was an easygoing sort of boy with a body that seemed to hang in a lazy fashion, such as always having one leg dangling over the arm of a chair when our daddy wasn't around. But the truth was, he had himself a fierce kind of temper when baited and a steely right hand to match.
Which character is being directly characterized in this excerpt?
A.) George
B.) Paul
C.) Paul’s father
D.) Mitchell
A.) George