Character and Theme
Question:
Which statement best summarizes the central conflict in the story?
A. The villagers are unsure how to work together.
B. A giant fish is destroying the island.
C. Nineti wants to become the leader of the village.
D. The villagers are preparing for a celebration.
B. A giant fish is destroying the island.
Question:
What can the reader infer about the giant fish based on how it behaves in the story?
A. It is friendly toward the villagers
B. It is confused about where it is
C. It is trying to avoid being seen
D. It is powerful and difficult to defeat
D. It is powerful and difficult to defeat
Question:
Read this sentence from the story:
“Out of the water surged a giant parrotfish with a mouth like a gaping cave…”
What does the word surged most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence?
A. moved slowly
B. suddenly rushed forward
C. quietly disappeared
D. stayed in one place
B. suddenly rushed forward
Question:
Which sentence best states the central idea of the article?
A. A strange-looking fish was caught in North Carolina and surprised people online.
B. Sheepshead fish have human-like teeth because their diet requires strong teeth for crushing food.
C. Sheepshead fish are found along the Atlantic coast from New York to Brazil.
D. Scientists believe sheepshead fish are dangerous only when people bother them.
B. Sheepshead fish have human-like teeth because their diet requires strong teeth for crushing food.
Question:
What can the reader infer from the author’s statement, “fortunately, there’s nothing human about it”?
A. The author wants readers to understand the fish may look strange, but it is still just a fish.
B. The author believes the fish is part human.
C. The author thinks the fish should not live near humans.
D. The author wants readers to be afraid of the fish.
A. The author wants readers to understand the fish may look strange, but it is still just a fish.
Question:
Which key detail contributes most to the development of the theme?
A. The men sail out to search for the fish but cannot catch it.
B. Nineti runs quickly to warn the village about the danger.
C. The maidens cut their hair and work together to create a net.
D. The fish hides in underwater caves when people approach.
C. The maidens cut their hair and work together to create a net.
Question:
How does the author’s use of the description “a mouth like a gaping cave” contribute to the story?
A. It helps the reader visualize how large and dangerous the fish is
B. It explains where the fish lives
C. It shows that the fish is not very strong
D. It suggests the fish is easy to defeat
A. It helps the reader visualize how large and dangerous the fish is
Read this sentence from the story:
“The giant fish continued to devour the rock…”
Based on the context, what does the word devour most nearly mean?
A. to break apart slowly
B. to look at closely
C. to eat quickly and hungrily
D. to carry away
C. to eat quickly and hungrily
Question:
How does the introduction help develop the article?
A. It explains why sheepshead fish are dangerous to people.
B. It compares sheepshead fish to several other ocean animals.
C. It catches the reader’s attention with an unusual discovery before explaining the science behind it.
D. It gives step-by-step directions for identifying sheepshead fish.
D. It compares the fish to other ocean animals.
C. It catches the reader’s attention with an unusual discovery before explaining the science behind it.
Question:
Why does the author include David Catania’s opinion in the section “Safe Waters With Sheepshead Fish”?
A. To explain how sheepshead fish hunt for food
B. To support the idea that sheepshead fish are usually not dangerous to humans
C. To prove that people should stop catching sheepshead fish
D. To describe the exact location where the fish was caught
B. To support the idea that sheepshead fish are usually not dangerous to humans
Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?
A. Leaders must make decisions without help from others.
B. Strength alone is enough to solve difficult problems.
C. Fear prevents people from making good choices.
D. Working together helps people overcome challenges.
D. Working together helps people overcome challenges.
Question:
How does the author’s use of details about the shaking ground contribute to the mood of the story?
A. It creates a calm and peaceful mood
B. It builds tension and shows the danger of the situation
C. It makes the story feel humorous
D. It shows that the villagers are not concerned
B. It builds tension and shows the danger of the situation
Question:
Read this sentence from the story:
“Their voices created a sweet, melodious sound that filled the air…”
What does the word melodious most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence?
A. loud and distracting
B. soft and pleasant to hear
C. fast and confusing
D. harsh and unpleasant
B. soft and pleasant to hear
Question:
How does the section “Diet Explains Teeth” contribute to the article?
A. It explains the cause of the fish’s unusual teeth by connecting them to what the fish eats.
B. It proves that sheepshead fish are more similar to humans than other fish.
C. It describes the fish’s habitat and why it lives near the Atlantic coast.
D. It explains why fishermen often catch sheepshead fish near North Carolina.
D. They explain how the fish moves through the water.
A. It explains the cause of the fish’s unusual teeth by connecting them to what the fish eats.
Question:
How does the phrase “toothy surprise” affect the tone of the article?
A. It creates a serious and warning tone.
B. It creates a playful, curious tone that makes readers want to learn more.
C. It creates a sad tone about the fish being caught.
D. It creates an angry tone toward fishermen.
B. It creates a playful, curious tone that makes readers want to learn more.
Question:
How do the actions of the villagers contribute to the development of the theme?
A. They rely on the chief to solve the problem for them.
B. They show that only the strongest people can succeed.
C. They work together and combine their efforts to solve the problem.
D. They avoid the problem until it becomes too dangerous
C. They work together and combine their efforts to solve the problem.
Question:
How does the point of view influence how the reader understands the events in the story?
A. It allows the reader to understand the thoughts and actions of all characters equally
B. It focuses on the chief’s decisions and leadership
C. It helps the reader understand the problem and solution through Nineti’s experiences
D. It limits the reader’s understanding of what is happening in the story
C. It helps the reader understand the problem and solution through Nineti’s experiences
Read this sentence from the article:
“Like humans, the sheepshead fish has an omnivorous diet: it eats both plants and animals.”
What does the word omnivorous most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence?
A. eating only plants
B. eating only animals
C. eating both plants and animals
D. eating very little food
C. eating both plants and animals
Question:
Which detail is most important to include in a summary of the article?
A. The fish was once common near Brooklyn, New York.
B. The fish can grow up to 91 centimeters long.
C. The fish’s teeth grow and change as its diet changes from soft animals to harder shellfish.
D. The fish was photographed after being caught in North Carolina.
C. The fish’s teeth grow and change as its diet changes from soft animals to harder shellfish.
Question:
What is the author’s purpose for comparing the sheepshead fish’s teeth to human teeth?
A. To persuade readers that humans and fish eat the same foods
B. To show that the fish is dangerous because it has human-like teeth
C. To help readers understand the fish’s unusual appearance by connecting it to something familiar
D. To explain why the fish lives near beaches
C. To help readers understand the fish’s unusual appearance by connecting it to something familiar
Question:
How does the author develop the theme throughout the story?
A. By showing that the conflict is solved quickly without effort
B. By describing the fish as dangerous and difficult to defeat
C. By showing how different characters respond to the conflict and eventually work together
D. By focusing on the setting of the island and its changes over time
C. By showing how different characters respond to the conflict and eventually work together
Question:
How do the author’s choices in describing the fish and the villagers’ actions contribute to the overall meaning of the story?
A. They show that the fish is not a serious problem for the villagers
B. They explain how the setting changes throughout the story
C. They emphasize the danger of the conflict and the importance of working together to solve it
D. They focus mainly on the traditions of the village
C. They emphasize the danger of the conflict and the importance of working together to solve it
uestion:
Read this sentence from the article:
“These are useful for crunching through the shells of crabs and other shellfish.”
How does the phrase “crunching through” help the reader understand the meaning of the word molars?
A. It shows that molars are used for tearing food into pieces
B. It shows that molars are used for breaking hard food into smaller pieces
C. It shows that molars are used for tasting food
D. It shows that molars are used for swallowing food whole
B. It shows that molars are used for breaking hard food into smaller pieces
Which statement best explains how the author develops the central idea across the article?
A. The author begins with a surprising catch, explains the fish’s teeth through its diet, and ends by clarifying that the fish is usually harmless.
B. The author lists where the fish lives, describes its size, and explains why people enjoy catching it.
C. The author compares sheepshead fish to humans and argues that the fish should be protected.
D. The author describes a dangerous fish, explains how people can avoid it, and warns swimmers to stay away.
A. The author begins with a surprising catch, explains the fish’s teeth through its diet, and ends by clarifying that the fish is usually harmless.
Question:
Which statement best explains how the author uses word choice and details to shape the reader’s understanding of the fish?
A. The author uses frightening words to make the fish seem dangerous throughout the article.
B. The author uses surprising language at first, then facts and expert information to show the fish is unusual but mostly harmless.
C. The author uses mostly scientific terms to make the article difficult and formal.
D. The author uses opinion words to convince readers that sheepshead fish should not be caught.
B. The author uses surprising language at first, then facts and expert information to show the fish is unusual but mostly harmless.