Multiple Choice
How is Kareem and Norbert’s friendship developed in the article?
A. The authors describe the various interests that Kareem and Norbert have.
B. The authors use cause and effect to describe how Kareem and Norbert became friends.
C. The authors present a problem Kareem and Norbert encounter and describe how they solve it.
D. The authors compare and contrast the friendship of Kareem and Norbert to the friendships of other students.
A. The authors describe the various interests that Kareem and Norbert have.
What do you think the word “implies” means in paragraph 1?
A. Equals
B. Contrasts with
C. Strongly suggests
C. Strongly suggests
What does the word “theme” mean?
A. the central idea
B. piece of a text
C. inference/idea
D. the lesson or message
D. the lesson or message
In the passage, which character’s point of view does the author mostly develop?
A. Norbert’s
B. Coach Donahue’s
C. Mel Triplett’s
D. Kareem’s
D. Kareem’s
Which statement best describes the importance of Norbert in Kareem’s life?
A. “We would shut ourselves in my room to play chess and talk about our plans for the future.”
B. “...both of us had started to take an interest in finding out more about our ethnic origins.”
C. “And back and forth we’d go, trying to one-up the other in a cultural heritage version of rock, paper, scissors.”
D. “...I had a friend in whom I could confide any thought or feeling, knowing he would never make fun of me.”
D. “...I had a friend in whom I could confide any thought or feeling, knowing he would never make fun of me.”
What do you think the word “turmoil” means in paragraph 4?
A. State of confusion or disorder
B. State of happiness or glee
C. State of anger or bitterness
D. State of peace or calm
A. State of confusion or disorder
What does the word “reveal” mean?
What do lines 36 through 42 REVEAL about the character?
A. predict
B. show
C. foreshadow
D. describe with figurative language
B. show
What type of figurative language is used in this sentence?
“In the distance I could see groves of coconut trees, their green fronds waving against the sky like pinwheels.”
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
A. Simile
Which quotation best represents the idea that the opinion of classmates can have a major effect on teenagers?
A. “Size implies maturity. Yes, I was the size of an adult (actually, bigger than most!), but I was still just a kid.”
B. “As a card-carrying Good Boy, I wanted to meet adults’ expectations and get their praise, but as a Regular Kid, I wanted to be like my peers and get their friendship...”
C. “Weekends, I hung out with my only close friend left in the projects, Norbert.”
D. “And back and forth we’d go, trying to one-up the other in a cultural heritage version of rock, paper, scissors.”
B. “As a card-carrying Good Boy, I wanted to meet adults’ expectations and get their praise, but as a Regular Kid, I wanted to be like my peers and get their friendship...”
What do you think the word “refuge” means in paragraph 4?
A. danger
B. energy
C. companion
D. escape
D. escape
What is difficult about reading an excerpt of a story?
A. You are thrown into the story without knowing much about characters and earlier events.
B. You need to use your context clues to understand challenging vocabulary.
C. You may not have read anything by this author before.
D. You need to really visualize the setting.
A. You are thrown into the story without knowing much about characters and earlier events.
What does the word “establishes” mean in this sentence?
The author ESTABLISHES the character’s personality by showing how she treats people who are different from her.
A. the perspective from which a story is told
B. reasons
C. creates
D. feelings of the character or reader
C. creates
Which quotation best expresses a central idea in the article?
A. “The scary thing about being so tall when you’re so young is that people automatically treat you as if you’re older.”
B. “My refuge from the explosive turmoil outside, and the implosive turmoil I had started to feel inside, was basketball.”
C. “We even took the subway to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to find out more about Filipino and African cultures.”
D. “I hurried away on a mission to tell anyone who would listen that I would be playing varsity that afternoon.”
B. “My refuge from the explosive turmoil outside, and the implosive turmoil I had started to feel inside, was basketball.”
What do you think the word “resplendent” means in paragraph 2?
A. impressive
B. stiff
C. clean
D. resigned
A. impressive
What does the word “contribute” mean?
How do lines 14 through 16 CONTRIBUTE to the development of the plot?
A. add to
B. predict
C. go against
D. none of the above
A. add to
What do the details in paragraphs 5 through 9 mainly reveal about Kareem?
A. He wishes to visit more museums.
B. He prefers listening to jazz music.
C. He enjoys playing competitive games.
D. He desires to learn more about his heritage.
D. He desires to learn more about his heritage.
In paragraph 10, what does Kareem mean when he says, “I didn’t have an aggressive nature”?
A. He believes he needs to change the way he plays basketball.
B. He understands he may not be a strong player because of his age.
C. He discovers the other players know more ways to score in basketball.
D. He realizes he needs to practice more if he wants to improve as a player.
A. He believes he needs to change the way he plays basketball.
What do you think the word “card-carrying” means in paragraph 1?
A. confused
B. undeniable
C. impressive
D. possessing an I.D.
B. undeniable
Which of these is NOT a synonym for theme?
A. lesson
B. main idea
C. moral
D. message
B. main idea
What does paragraph 14 show about the relationship between Kareem and Coach Donahue?
A. Kareem and Coach Donahue understand the importance of studying.
B. Kareem is beginning to understand and appreciate Coach Donahue’s personality.
C. Kareem expected Coach Donahue’s decision to have him play varsity.
D. Kareem is worried that Coach Donahue is disappointed by his performance as a player.
B. Kareem is beginning to understand and appreciate Coach Donahue’s personality.