Telling Details
A reader writes: “The woman’s coat is red.” This statement is:
A. An inference
B. An observation
C. A theme
D. A prediction
B. An observation
At the beginning of Bread, where is the bread?
The kitchen
Where is the narrator going at the beginning of the story?
Her first day of school
Amir placed his wet umbrella beside the door. Drops of water formed a small puddle underneath it.
Which statement is an inference?
A. Amir has an umbrella.
B. The umbrella is wet.
C. It was probably raining outside.
D. Water is on the floor.
C. It was probably raining outside.
Which is a complete independent clause?
A. Before the first day of school
B. Down New Jersey Avenue
C. She takes my hand
D. Because her mother insisted
C. She takes my hand
Which statement is an inference?
A. The desk has three books on it.
B. One book is open.
C. The student was studying before class.
D. A pencil is beside the book.
C. The student was studying before class.
In the famine scenario, why has the narrator been saving the bread?
For when the hunger becomes unbearable
Which word BEST describes the narrator’s mother based on her efforts to enroll her daughter?
A. Careless
B. Determined
C. Indifferent
D. Confused
B. Determined
When the teacher returned the tests, Lena immediately turned hers facedown and pushed it underneath her notebook.
Which inference is BEST supported?
A. Lena probably does not want others to see her test.
B. Lena hates notebooks.
C. Lena did not take the test.
D. Lena wants another test.
A. Lena probably does not want others to see her test.
Which is a dependent clause?
A. The students entered the room.
B. Because the students entered the room
C. Into the crowded room
D. The crowded room
B. Because the students entered the room
Which detail BEST supports the inference that a character is nervous?
A. She entered the classroom.
B. She wore a blue sweater.
C. She twisted the corner of her paper until it tore.
D. She sat in the front row.
C. She twisted the corner of her paper until it tore.
In the prison scenario, which object does the bread cause the prisoner to remember?
A yellow bowl
Why can’t the narrator’s mother complete the school forms herself?
She cannot read or write.
Which detail provides the STRONGEST evidence that a restaurant is extremely busy?
A. The restaurant has red chairs.
B. Music is playing.
C. Every table is occupied and customers are waiting outside.
D. The restaurant serves noodles.
C. Every table is occupied and customers are waiting outside.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
A. Before the bell rang the students hurried inside.
B. Before the bell rang, the students hurried inside.
C. Before, the bell rang the students hurried inside.
D. Before the bell, rang the students hurried inside.
B. Before the bell rang, the students hurried inside.
A writer wants readers to infer that a man is impatient. Which detail would be MOST effective?
A. He was a tall man wearing a gray jacket.
B. He checked his watch, sighed, and pressed the elevator button again.
C. He stood beside the elevator doors.
D. His meeting was scheduled for the afternoon.
B. He checked his watch, sighed, and pressed the elevator button again.
What happens when the rich woman’s husband cuts into the loaf in the fairy-tale section?
Blood flows from it.
In the opening sentence, what does the phrase “long before I learned to be ashamed of my mother” establish?
A. The physical location of the scene
B. The reason the mother chose the school
C. The event’s relationship to the narrator’s later feelings
D. The mother’s feelings about her daughter
C. The event’s relationship to the narrator’s later feelings
Bob said, “I’m fine,” but he folded the letter into smaller and smaller squares until his thumbnail tore through the paper.
Which detail MOST strongly suggests that his words do not match his feelings?
A. He speaks aloud.
B. He says, “I’m fine.”
C. He repeatedly folds and damages the letter.
D. He is holding a letter.
C. He repeatedly folds and damages the letter.
Which sentence correctly combines the ideas into a complex sentence?
The street became crowded. Night fell.
A. The street became crowded, night fell.
B. When night fell, the street became crowded.
C. The street became crowded and night.
D. When night fell and the street became crowded.
B. When night fell, the street became crowded.
A character enters a room and immediately chooses the chair closest to the exit. Later, she keeps her coat on and looks toward the hallway whenever footsteps pass. Which inference is BEST supported by the pattern of details?
A. She dislikes the room’s furniture.
B. She expects or wants to leave quickly.
C. She is cold and uncomfortable.
D. She is waiting for someone to bring her coat.
B. She expects or wants to leave quickly.
Which sequence BEST describes the changing significance of bread across these three contexts?
Kitchen → Famine → Prison
A. Comfort → wealth → punishment
B. Abundance → survival → reminder of home and freedom
C. Waste → generosity → survival
D. Nourishment → greed → wealth
Abundance → survival → reminder of home and freedom
What does the phrase “long before I learned to be ashamed of my mother” allow readers to understand that the young narrator does not yet understand?
A. Her mother will eventually leave her.
B. Her feelings toward her mother will later become more complicated.
C. Her mother is already ashamed of her daughter.
D. She already wishes she could attend school alone.
B. Her feelings toward her mother will later become more complicated.
Niran pushed his untouched plate away. When his mother asked whether he was hungry, he said, “I’m fine.” A moment later, he checked his phone again and looked toward the restaurant entrance.
Which additional detail would MOST strongly support the inference that Niran is anxiously waiting for someone?
A. His water glass is almost empty.
B. His mother orders dessert.
C. He asks the server whether anyone has come in asking for him.
D. The restaurant begins to get crowded.
C. He asks the server whether anyone has come in asking for him.
Which sentence contains exactly one dependent clause and one independent clause?
A. Although the rain had stopped, Maya kept the umbrella open as she walked toward the station.
B. Because the rain had stopped before Maya reached the station.
C. Although the rain had stopped, Maya kept the umbrella open.
D. Maya kept the umbrella open, and she walked toward the station.
C. Although the rain had stopped, Maya kept the umbrella open.