Comprehension
Skills
Comprehension 2
Skills 2
Comprehension 3
100

What is a strategy you might use to predict what will happen next in a story?

make connections between your prior knowledge and details in the story

100

In "Stray," why does Doris wait to give the puppy a name?

She does not want to become too attached to the puppy.

100

Which sentence from "Stray" might lead you to predict that Doris’s parents will not let her keep the puppy? 

  • A.The puppy had been abandoned, and it made its way down the road toward the Laceys’ small house, its ears tucked, its tail between its legs, shivering.
  • B.Because the roads would be too bad for travel for many days, Mr. Lacey couldn’t get out to take the puppy to the pound in the city right away.
  • C.Several times Doris had opened the door in the kitchen that led to the basement and the puppy had been there, all stretched out, on the top step.
  • D.Mrs. Lacey just shook her head and stuffed a forkful of sweet potato in her mouth.

B. Because the roads would be too bad for travel for many days, Mr. Lacey couldn’t get out to take the puppy to the pound in the city right away.

100

What is the main conflict in "Stray"?

Doris wants to keep the puppy, but her parents do not think the family can afford to do so.

100

At what point in the plot of "Stray" does Mr. Lacey make the following statement?

"I don't know where it came from," he said mildly, "but I know for sure where it's going." 

  • A.exposition
  • B.rising action
  • C.climax
  • D.falling action

B. Rising Action

200

Which of the following words best describes Mrs. Lacey in "Stray"?


  • A.practical
  • B.selfish
  • C.funny
  • D.generous


A. practical

200

In "Stray," why does Doris think that the puppy is well behaved?


  • A.The puppy cries for its mother at night.
  • B.The puppy always tries to go into the kitchen.
  • C.The puppy does not tear up things in the basement.
  • D.The puppy eats food off of Mr. Lacey’s plate.


  • C.The puppy does not tear up things in the basement.
200

In "Stray," how does Doris react when her father takes the puppy away?


  • A.She cries herself to sleep.
  • B.She runs down the road after her father’s car.
  • C.She talks to her mother about how upset she is to lose the puppy.
  • D.She goes to school.


  • A.She cries herself to sleep.
200

Which of the following events occurs in the falling action of "Stray"?


  • A.Mr. Lacey agrees to let the puppy sleep in the basement.
  • B.Mrs. Lacey tells Doris she should try to act more grown-up.
  • C.Mrs. Lacey allows Doris to feed the puppy table scraps.
  • D.Mr. Lacey tells Doris that she should feed the puppy or it will starve.


  • D.Mr. Lacey tells Doris that she should feed the puppy or it will starve.
200

In "Stray," what does Mrs. Lacey mean when she tells Doris to act more grown-up?


  • A.She wants Doris to do her chores without being asked.
  • B.She wants Doris to stop crying about the puppy.
  • C.She wants Doris to stop sleeping all afternoon.
  • D.She wants Doris to be able to disagree with her without getting so upset.


  • B.She wants Doris to stop crying about the puppy.
300

What does the word trudged mean in the following sentence from the story?

Doris trudged through the yard, went up the shoveled drive and met the dog.


  • A.walked as if tired or with effort
  • B.stomped loudly
  • C.skipped lightly with happiness
  • D.crept quietly


  • A.walked as if tired or with effort
300

What is the most likely reason the puppy approaches Doris timidly?


  • A.The puppy is friendly toward people.
  • B.The puppy is shy and afraid.
  • C.The puppy misses its mother.
  • D.The puppy does not want to go inside.


  • B.The puppy is shy and afraid.
300

Why does Mrs. Lacey grudgingly let Doris feed the puppy table scraps?


  • A.She feels sorry that table scraps are all that is left.
  • B.She is happy that there is something left to give the puppy.
  • C.She fears that the puppy will eat all of Doris's food.
  • D.She resents having to give food to the puppy.


  • D.She resents having to give food to the puppy.
300

How can you tell whether a noun is a proper noun?


  • A.A proper noun names something that is owned by someone.
  • B.A proper noun is signaled by an apostrophe.
  • C.A proper noun is a general name for a group of people, places, or things.
  • D.A proper noun is always capitalized.


  • D.A proper noun is always capitalized.
300

How many nouns (common, proper, and possessive) are in the following sentence?

In January, a puppy wandered close to the Laceys' small house.


  • A.one
  • B.two
  • C.three
  • D.four


  • D.four
400

In which of the following sentences is a possessive noun used correctly?


  • A.At the pound, Mr. Lacey could see dog's everywhere.
  • B.The puppy's eyes were full of love.
  • C.The trucks old engine finally started up.
  • D.Everyone liked Mrs. Laceys sweet potato biscuit's.


  • B.The puppy's eyes were full of love.