Character Under Pressure
A character says, “I’m fine,” but keeps looking toward the door and twisting the sleeve of her shirt. What evidence from the character’s behavior suggests that she may actually be nervous? Explain what the behavior reveals.
Her repeated glances toward the door and twisting of her sleeve suggest that she feels nervous or uneasy, even though she says she is fine.
Which is a theme, not simply a topic?
A. Responsibility
B. Family
C. Difficult circumstances can force people to grow.
D. Courage
Answer: C
An author repeatedly gives readers a character's private thoughts during a difficult decision. What narrative technique is being used, and what can it reveal?
A. Internal reflection; it reveals the character’s feelings, motivations, and inner conflict.
B. Dialogue; it reveals how the character communicates thoughts and feelings to other people.
C. Description; it reveals how the character’s surroundings influence the events of the story.
D. Flashback; it reveals how the character’s past experiences connect to the current situation.
A. Internal reflection; it reveals the character’s feelings, motivations, and inner conflict.
Which answer BEST shows how setting conditions can influence a character’s actions?
A. A strict rule makes a character nervous, so she decides to follow it carefully.
B. A character lives in a small town and walks to school every morning.
C. A storm begins late at night while a character is sleeping inside.
D. A crowded city has busy streets, tall buildings, and many stores nearby.
A. A strict rule makes a character nervous, so she decides to follow it carefully.
The sentence says: “Amari hesitated at the doorway before finally stepping inside.”
Which meaning of hesitated fits BEST?
A. shouted
B. paused
C. celebrated
D. escaped
Answer: B
Parvana strongly resists cutting her hair, but agreeing becomes easier once Mrs. Weera tells her the decision ultimately belongs to her. What does this BEST reveal about Parvana?
A. She wants Mrs. Weera to make difficult choices for her when she feels uncertain.
B. She needs some control over the decision before she can accept the new responsibility.
C. She becomes more willing to change when other people explain what she should do.
D. She realizes that changing her appearance will make her responsibilities much easier to handle.
B. She needs some control over the decision before she can accept the new responsibility.
Which idea from Brown Girl Dreaming BEST supports a theme about developing your own identity?
A. Jacqueline realizes that school is challenging and works harder to meet her teachers’ expectations.
B. Jacqueline notices her sister’s success and begins trying to follow the same path at school.
C. Jacqueline realizes she does not have to be like her sister and begins finding her own voice.
D. Jacqueline understands that her teachers expect her to succeed because her sister did well before her.
C. Jacqueline realizes she does not have to be like her sister and begins finding her own voice.
Why might a poet place an emotionally important statement on a line by itself?
A. To introduce a new character and provide details about that person
B. To make the poem longer and add more lines to the page
C. To show that the setting has changed to a different place
D. To emphasize the statement and create a meaningful pause for readers
D. To emphasize the statement and create a meaningful pause for readers
Why does Parvana become more confident after entering the street disguised as a boy?
She expects people to notice or expose her, but the setting becomes less threatening when nobody pays attention to her.
Tyler looked at the empty seat beside him for the third day in a row. When the teacher asked for partners, he immediately looked down at his desk.
What can you BEST infer?
Tyler is likely missing or worried about the person who normally sits beside him and may feel uncomfortable partnering with someone else.
Jacqueline struggles academically in ways her sister does not. Why is this more important than simply showing that Jacqueline has difficulty in school?
A. It shows that Jacqueline needs to spend more time practicing her schoolwork than her sister does.
B. It explains why Jacqueline’s teachers provide her with different assignments and additional help in class.
C. It shows how being compared to her sister affects Jacqueline’s identity and how she sees herself.
D. It explains why Jacqueline becomes less interested in school and focuses more on activities at home.
C. It shows how being compared to her sister affects Jacqueline’s identity and how she sees herself.
Which theme is BEST supported by Parvana agreeing to disguise herself and shop for her family?
A. Appearance determines identity.
B. Children should never question adults.
C. Family responsibility can require personal sacrifice.
D. Independence means avoiding responsibility.
Answer: C
In Brown Girl Dreaming, Woodson repeats that Jacqueline's teachers keep "waiting, and waiting, and waiting" for her to show the same brilliance as her sister. Why is repetition effective?
A. It shows that Jacqueline’s teachers are willing to give her extra time to complete her work.
B. It emphasizes the pressure Jacqueline feels from her teachers’ expectations and comparisons to her sister.
C. It explains that Jacqueline’s teachers are confused about why she learns differently from her sister.
D. It suggests that Jacqueline needs more time than her classmates to understand what she is learning.
B. It emphasizes the pressure Jacqueline feels from her teachers’ expectations and comparisons to her sister.
Salva repeatedly wonders where his family is while traveling among frightened villagers and armed soldiers. How does the setting influence him?
The dangerous, uncertain setting increases his fear and worry and forces him to focus on survival.
Parvana's haircut is more than a physical change. What does it symbolize?
A. Her desire to change her appearance and become more independent from her family.
B. Her fear of being recognized and her hope of avoiding problems outside.
C. Her new responsibilities and changing identity as she takes on a role her family needs.
D. Her decision to leave her old life behind and create a different future.
C. Her new responsibilities and changing identity as she takes on a role her family needs.
When Salva is terrified by the soldier's gun, thinking about his family gives him enough strength to remain standing. What does this response reveal?
A. His hope of finding his family gives him courage even when he feels afraid.
B. His fear of the soldier makes him realize that he must hide his emotions.
C. His memories of his family distract him from understanding the danger around him.
D. His experience with danger has taught him that he should always remain calm.
A. His hope of finding his family gives him courage even when he feels afraid.
Salva experiences fear, separation, violence, and uncertainty but continues moving forward. Which theme is BEST developed?
A. Difficult experiences are easier to overcome when people avoid thinking about their fears.
B. People can find courage and determination even when facing frightening and uncertain circumstances.
C. People become stronger when they learn to handle every difficult situation on their own.
D. Dangerous experiences teach people that survival depends mostly on making careful decisions.
B. People can find courage and determination even when facing frightening and uncertain circumstances.
After a character experiences a major change, the author spends several sentences describing the character looking at herself in the mirror. How does this choice affect the pacing of the story?
A. It speeds up the pacing so readers can quickly learn what happens to the character next.
B. It keeps the pacing steady so the character’s experience seems similar to earlier events.
C. It interrupts the pacing so readers become unsure about why the character has changed.
D. It slows the pacing so readers can focus on the character’s reaction and importance of the change.
D. It slows the pacing so readers can focus on the character’s reaction and importance of the change.
Which answer BEST analyzes setting instead of simply identifying it?
A. The crowded city has tall buildings, busy sidewalks, and many people nearby.
B. The character walks through the crowded city while noticing the people around her.
C. The crowded city overwhelms the character, causing her to search for a quieter place.
D. The city setting includes busy streets, crowded sidewalks, and several tall buildings.
C. The crowded city overwhelms the character, causing her to search for a quieter place.
SELECT TWO: Which TWO details would BEST show that a setting is causing a character to become more confident?
A. She notices nobody is watching her.
B. She remembers what she ate for breakfast.
C. Her steps become quicker and steadier.
D. The building was constructed in 1982.
E. Her brother prefers a different route.
Answer: A and C
A character begins a story afraid, dependent on others, and resistant to change. By the end, she takes action even though she is still nervous. Which statement BEST analyzes her development?
A. Her fear completely disappears.
B. She learns courage means acting despite fear.
C. She realizes other people cause her problems, but she is stronger.
D. She becomes less aware of danger.
Answer: B
Both Parvana and Salva are children placed in dangerous situations beyond their control. What theme could reasonably apply to both texts?
A. Young people should depend on adults to make difficult decisions during dangerous situations.
B. Dangerous situations often cause young people to lose hope when facing new responsibilities.
C. Young people can avoid difficult situations by making careful choices and following expectations.
D. Difficult circumstances can force young people to take on responsibilities and show courage early.
D. Difficult circumstances can force young people to take on responsibilities and show courage early.
An author describes a frightening experience that a child faces during a conflict. What is the author’s purpose for including this experience?
A. To show that children always respond to dangerous situations in the same way
B. To help readers understand and empathize with how conflict can affect children
C. To prove that the child made the best choices during the difficult situation
D. To entertain readers by adding an exciting and frightening event to the story
B. To help readers understand and empathize with how conflict can affect children
Parvana once tries to make herself invisible by covering herself, but later feels "invisible" because everyone sees her as just another boy. Why is this change important?
A. It shows that Parvana has learned to hide from others whenever she feels afraid or unsafe.
B. It shows that being unnoticed changes from restriction and fear to freedom and confidence as her circumstances change.
C. It shows that Parvana no longer cares how others see her because she has accepted her new appearance.
D. It shows that being unnoticed allows Parvana to avoid her responsibilities and spend more time away from home.
B. It shows that being unnoticed changes from restriction and fear to freedom and confidence as her circumstances change.
Read:
Nia stopped at the entrance to the gym. Hundreds of voices echoed from the bleachers. During practice, she had performed the routine perfectly, but practice had never included an audience. Her hands shook. She almost turned around. Then she spotted her little sister waving from the front row. Nia smiled, lifted her head, and stepped onto the floor.
Question: Explain how the setting influences Nia's character AND how the author uses Nia's response to develop a theme.
A. The crowded gym makes Nia excited to perform, and seeing her sister reminds her that practice always leads to success.
B. The noisy gym makes Nia lose confidence, and seeing her sister teaches her that family members can solve difficult problems.
C. The crowded gym makes Nia nervous, but seeing her sister helps her face her fear, showing that courage means acting even when afraid.
D. The large audience makes Nia uncomfortable, but seeing her sister helps her relax, showing that support can make challenges disappear.
C. The crowded gym makes Nia nervous, but seeing her sister helps her face her fear, showing that courage means acting even when afraid.