The Breadwinner
What is Parvana’s primary concern about assuming the role of a boy?
a) She is worried that she will be teased
b) She believes what she is doing is wrong
c) She is afraid that she will be recognized
d) She resents having to do her sister’s job
What is c) She is afraid that she will be recognized
Which phrase best explains why the speaker repeats the line Life doesn’t frighten me at all?
a) To help overcome her fears
b) To explain that the world is not scary
c) To show that some people have many fears
d) To suggest that she is braver than her classmates
What is a) To help overcome her fears?
Read this sentence from paragraph 3: Fear helps protect us. Which statement from the article supports this idea?
a) “Like all emotions, fear can be mild, medium, or intense…”
b) “Fear is the word we use to describe our emotional reaction to something that seems dangerous.”
c) “Some fears are good for us because they keep us safe.”
d) “People with phobias often avoid the object of their fear.”
What is b) “Fear is the word we use to describe our emotional reaction to something that seems dangerous.”?
Based on the subheading “Words Do Hurt Like Sticks and Stones”, the reader can predict that paragraphs 5–8 will—
a) Provide examples of bullying
b) Explain how people laugh at each other
c) Show that social pain can feel like physical pain
d) Argue that embarrassment doesn’t matter
What is c) Show that social pain can feel like physical pain?
How does Vinny feel at the start of the story?
a) Brave
b) Excited
c) Nervous
d) Angry
What is c) Nervous?
In paragraph 30, why does Mother most likely ask Parvana if she wants to watch while she cuts her hair?
a) To punish Parvana for resisting the idea
b) To force Parvana to demonstrate her obedience
c) To help Parvana to accept the idea
d) To reassure Parvana that the haircut will look nice
What is c) To help Parvana to accept the idea?
Which lines from the poem show that the speaker uses rhyme to create rhythm?
a) “Tough guys fight / All alone at night”
b) “Life doesn’t frighten me at all”
c) “I’ve got a magic charm / That I keep up my sleeve”
d) “That I can walk the ocean floor / And never have to breathe”
What is a) “Tough guys fight / All alone at night”?
Which sentence best explains the difference between fear and a phobia?
a) Fear is less common than a phobia.
b) Fear is imaginary, while phobia is real.
c) Fear is normal and healthy; phobia is extreme and unhealthy.
d) Fear is genetic, while phobia is learned.
What is c) Fear is normal and healthy; phobia is extreme and unhealthy.?
What does the word amplify mean in paragraph 9?
a) Reduce
b) Increase
c) Silence
d) End
What is b) Increase?
Which phrase helps explain the meaning of murky?
a) Clear water
b) Brown and shadowy
c) Sparkling surface
d) Shallow pond
What is b) Brown and shadowy?
What inference can the reader make about Parvana based on paragraphs 21–24?
a) She feels scared about the decision to cut her hair
b) She wants her sister to be the one to cut her hair
c) Being allowed to make her own choice helps her say yes
d) Being forced into the decision makes her unwilling to cooperate
What is c) Being allowed to make her own choice helps her say yes?
Which words in the poem help create a scary mood?
a) Pretty flowers
b) Shadows, noises, panthers
c) Sunshine, charm, magic
d) Teacher, classroom, desk
What is b) Shadows, noises, panthers?
What does the word trigger most likely mean as it is used in paragraph 5?
a) To stop suddenly
b) To cause to begin
c) To make smaller
d) To confuse someone
What is b) To cause to begin?
What is the main idea of “Embarrassment Has an Unfair Advantage”?
a) Teens never care about what others think
b) Social pain has both helpful and harmful effects
c) Adults are more embarrassed than teens
d) Research shows embarrassment is rare
What is b) Social pain has both helpful and harmful effects?
Which detail shows Vinny’s friends disagree with his choice not to jump?
a) They quietly support him.
b) They laugh and tease him.
c) They leave him alone.
d) They walk away silently.
What is b) They laugh and tease him?
Which statement best expresses a theme of the selection?
a) The enduring love of family makes anything seem possible
b) It can be difficult to have courage in the face of challenges
c) People often use food to show their love for each other
d) Supporting the community is as important as supporting family
What is b) It can be difficult to have courage in the face of challenges?
What is the tone of the poem?
a) Nervous and shy
b) Bold and confident
c) Sad and gloomy
d) Lonely and quiet
What is b) Bold and confident?
How is the article mostly organized?
a) By telling a story
b) By comparing fears and phobias
c) By explaining how fear works in the brain and body
d) By persuading readers not to be afraid
What is c) By explaining how fear works in the brain and body?
What is meant by the phrase “threat alert system” in the article?
a) A program that prevents embarrassment
b) The body’s automatic response to social pain
c) A system that controls the nervous system
d) A computer program about the brain
What is b) The body’s automatic response to social pain?
Which words best describe Vinny at the end of the story?
a) Boastful and curious
b) Calm and relieved
c) Angry and embarrassed
d) Excited and reckless
What is b) Calm and relieved?
In the story, Parvana’s haircut represents—
a) Happier times
b) New responsibilities
c) Abandoned beliefs
d) Cultural traditions
What is b) New responsibilities?
Which statement best describes the structure of the poem?
a) It is written as a narrative story.
b) It has dialogue and characters.
c) It is organized into stanzas with a repeated refrain.
d) It is made up of one long paragraph.
What is c) It is organized into stanzas with a repeated refrain?
What can you infer about people who enjoy roller coasters or scary movies?
a) They are fearless.
b) They enjoy the physical reaction that fear creates.
c) They are reckless.
d) They never feel afraid.
What is b) They enjoy the physical reaction that fear creates?
Which sentence uses commas correctly?
a) Because, their brains are not fully developed teens often feel embarrassed.
b) Because their brains, are not fully developed, teens often feel embarrassed.
c) Because their brains are not fully developed, teens often feel embarrassed.
d) Because their brains are not fully developed teens, often feel embarrassed.
What is c) Because their brains are not fully developed, teens often feel embarrassed?
What theme is best supported by Vinny’s experience?
a) Friends should always stick together.
b) Courage means taking risks.
c) Courage means knowing your own limits.
d) Fear prevents growth.
What is c) Courage means knowing your own limits?