Point of View/Suspense
Main Idea/Details
Characterization and Character Motivation
Story Elements
Language
100
What narration is the story told from? a) 1st person b) 3rd person omniscient c) 3rd person limited d) 1st person omniscient
a) What is first person point of view.
100
Where is Sam McGee from?
What is Tennesee
100
What is the setting of the story?
What is the Arctic
100
What does the phrase "through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven nail" in Stanza 2 mean? a) Sam McGee murdered someone with a nail b) Sam McGee was murdered by the narrator c) it's so cold that it feels like nails stabbing you d) mushing along the trail is extremely rough and bumpy
c) it's so cold that it feels like nails stabbing you
200
Which stanza contains the most suspense? a) stanza 4 b) stanza 5 c) stanza 11 d) stanza 13
d) stanza 13
200
Why doesn't Sam McGee like the setting of the story?
It's too cold for him.
200
Describe the setting
It is cold and snowy.
200
What does Sam McGee mean when he says, "I'll cash in this trip, I guess."? a) he's finally got enough gold to go home b) he's going to give up and die from the cold c) he's going to take all of the narrator's money d) he's going to give the narrator all his gold
b) he's going to give up and die from the cold
300
In stanzas 8 and 9, what is the narrator's point of view towards Sam McGee? a) anger b) surprise c) fear d) compassion Explain why.
a) anger because the corpse is heavy and is making the trip very difficult for him.
300
Why doesn't Sam McGee just leave the cold north and return home?
He's obsessed with finding gold. It holds him like a spell.
300
What is the theme of the story? Explain why a) greed is good b) friendship is valuable c) don't judge others d) choose your friends wisely
The theme is "friendship is valuable" because it takes a good friend -- the narrator -- who is willing to keep his word to finally bring peace to Sam McGee.
300
In stanza 6, "heed" is closest in meaning to which of the following? a) pay attention to b) ignore c) speak about d) stop
a) pay attention to
400
How is suspense built in stanza 13? a) dangerous setting b) inner thoughts c) character questioning d) flashback or foreshadow Explain why
b) inner thoughts because we see that the character has fear and dread thinking about what has happened to Sam McGee. This makes the reader want to continue to see if his fears are legitimate.
400
What is the main idea of this passage? Like humans and many other mammals, she explained, the elephants have a wide range of calls and signals for different purposes—to secure their defense, warn others of danger, coordinate group movements, reconcile differences, attract mates, reinforce family bonds, and announce their needs and desires. a) elephants use different calls for different purposes b) elephants are very intelligent animals c) elephants are like humans in several ways d) elephants communicate to warn of danger
a) elephants use different calls for different purposes
400
Why doesn't the narrator just give up on trying to cremate Sam McGee since it's so much trouble?
Because he made a promise to Sam McGee and you can't break a promise on the trail.
400
What are the two main conflicts within the story?
1. Sam McGee struggling with his love of gold and dealing with the cold 2. The narrator struggles with keeping his promise to cremate Sam McGee
400
In the line "There are strange things done in the midnight sun/By the men who moil for gold," what does the word "moil" mean? a) fight b) work hard c) pray d) dance
b) work hard
500
How does point of view create suspense in the poem?
First person point of view allows us to see the inner thoughts of the narrator, who is telling this story. Through his thoughts we see how dangerous the trip is and how fearful he is of failing or ruining Sam McGee's cremation. Because of that, we want to keep reading to find out how successful or unsuccessful he'll be.
500
What is the main idea of this passage? Scientists say elephants have an elaborate system of communication because they need it to maintain a complex social structure based on strong family relationships. Adult male elephants live and travel alone or in loose association with other bulls, while elderly females (matriarchs) head family groups consisting of other female relatives and their young. These female units are organized into a structured system of bond groups and clans and usually stay together for life. A who is the head of an elephant group B why male elephants often live alone C how elephant groups are formed D how long elephant groups stay together
C) how elephant groups are formed
500
Why does Sam McGee smile at the end of the poem?
He is finally happy because he's warm for the first time since leaving Tennessee.
500
Which stanza is the climax of the story? Explain why.
Stanza 14 because that is the most intense part of the story when the narrator gains the courage to see what's become of Sam in the fire.
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