Close Read: Analyze the Text

Identify the choice that best answers the question.

Read this passage from “Two Kinds.” Here, Auntie Lindo, Waverly’s mother, is speaking
to the narrator’s mother about Waverly.

“She bring home too many trophy,” lamented Auntie Lindo that Sunday. “All day she
play chess. All day I have no time do nothing but dust off her winnings.”

1. Which statements best describe what this passage reveals about the characters and
their situation? Choose all that apply. (5F)

A. Auntie Lindo is jealous that the narrator also has trophies.

B. Auntie Lindo likes to show off Waverly's accomplishments.

C. Auntie Lindo is concerned that Waverly has too few hobbies.

D. Auntie Lindo is tired of dusting all of Waverly's chess trophies.

E. Auntie Lindo thinks it is fine to brag if she pretends to be complaining.

First Read: Comprehension

Identify the choice that best answers the question

2. Which statement best explains why the daughter in “Two Kinds” develops a negative
attitude toward her mother’s quizzes? (9F)

A. She wants to play piano instead of taking tests.

B. She finds the tests to be easy.

C. She is not interested in geography or math.

D. She sees herself disappointing her mother.

3. Which statement best describes the speaker’s point of view in “To James”? (9F)
 A. The speaker believes that leading a fulfilling life requires a complete
commitment to one's goals.

B. The speaker believes that the success of a runner depends completely on the
quality of the coach.

C. The speaker believes that athletic skill is the most important quality for a
person to have in life.

D. The speaker believes that winning races will make a runner successful in all
areas of his or her life.

4. Which quotation from “To James” best supports the answer to Part A? (5F)

A. Do you remember / How you won / That last race . . . ? (lines 1–3)

B. And when you flew into the stretch / Was not all my thrill / Of a thousand races
/ In your blood . . . ? (lines 19–22)

C. Did not my shout / Tell of the / Triumphant ecstasy / Of victory . . . ? (lines

25–28)

D. Think only of the goal / Run straight / Run high / Run hard / Save nothing /
And finish / With an ecstatic burst. . . . (lines 41–47)

Close Read: Analyze the Text

Identify the choice that best answers the question.

Read the following lines from “Mother to Son.”

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light. (lines 8–13)
5. What do these details reveal most clearly about the mother? Choose two
options.(5F)

A. She has often wanted to give up her goals.

B. She has sometimes failed and turned back.

C. She has appreciated help given by other people.

D. She has achieved some progress in her life.

E. She has moved forward even when the future has been unclear.

From "Mom & Me & Me"

6. In the selection from "Mom & Me & Mom", what do readers learn about Maya’s
mother, based on the way she acts with Maya? (7B)

A. Maya's mother fears that she will be a bad influence on her daughter.

B. Maya's mother wishes that she had Maya's singing and dancing talents.

C. Maya's mother demands that Maya immediately accept her as a parent.

D. Maya's mother hopes that Maya will accept her and eventually love her.

7. Which quotation from the text best supports the answer to Part A? (9F)

A. . . . "Maya, you disapprove of me because I am not like your grandmother.

That's true."

B. "But on the other hand, I am your mother. If you can force one smile on your
face for strangers, do it for me."

C. She kissed me on my lips and started to cry. "That's the first time I have seen
you smile. . . . Mother's beautiful daughter can smile."
 D. "Is Lady a person you might learn to like?" She waited as I thought about it.
I said, "Yes." "Well, that's it. I am Lady, and still your mother."

8. In this passage from "Mom & Me & Mom", Maya describes a conversation she has
with Grandmother after Bailey arrives.

Before Lady and Bailey Jr. reached the car I said to Grandmother, “I want to go back
home with you, Momma.” . . .

“When did you make that decision?” I didn’t want to answer.

She said, “When you saw the reunion of your brother and his mother?”

What conclusion about Grandmother is most clearly supported by this passage?

A. Grandmother decides to stay in San Francisco with the reunited family.

B. Grandmother wants to get rid of Maya and her brother and go home alone.

C. Grandmother sympathizes with Maya and is willing to take her back home with
her.

D. Grandmother understands Maya's feelings about the relationship between her

brother and mother.

9. Which of the following is most clearly an important life lesson that Grandmother
demonstrates for Maya in the selection from Mom & Me & Mom?

A. Forgiveness is something owed to those that seek redemption

B. Once a person has hurt you, that person can not be trusted again.

C. Be cautious of people who shower you with praise and affection.

D. Toleration of one another will fix any family problem.

10. Which quotation from the text best supports the answer to Question 9? (5F)
 A. That woman who looked like a movie star deserved a better-looking daughter
than me. I knew it and was sure she would know it as soon as she saw me.

B. "Oh baby, you're beautiful and so tall." . . .She kissed me. I had not received
one kiss in all the years in Arkansas. . . . Now Vivian Baxter was kissing my
cheeks and my lips and my hands.

C. Sometimes [my mother] would dance just because she felt like it, alone, by
herself, in the middle of the floor. While Grandmother accepted behavior so
different, I just couldn't get used to it.

D. I said, "I may go back to Stamps with Momma."…"No, ma'am, you will not."
My grandmother's voice was unusually hard.

11.How does the dialogue in this passage develop the narrator’s point of view? (9F)

Ms. Murphy was staring at me with those sweet blue eyes, waiting for my answer. I
didn’t think I could stand to rake one more leaf. But I was trying to build my
after-school-lawn-care business, and the customer is always right.
“Sure, Ms. Murphy. I can rake the backyard, too,” I replied.
Ugh! My hands were so sore that my blisters had blisters! She had to have the biggest
back yard in the entire neighborhood. This was going to take the rest of the afternoon.
“Well, I said, “I’d better get started on those leaves for you.”

A. It shows the narrator likes Ms. Murphy even though she is tough.
B. It shows that the narrator is upset because he has to do so much work.
C. It shows the narrator can be polite even when he is unhappy with a
situation.
D. It shows that the narrator has a lot to learn about running a business.

12. Which underlined detail from the passage best develops the narrator’s feelings
about hot chocolate? ()

I ordered a hot chocolate with no whipped cream and toast with jam. The waitress gave
me a friendly smile and walked away. I dropped a quarter into the jukebox and picked
out a few songs. By the time the second song came on, my order was ready. I rolled my
eyes at the mountain of whipped cream on my hot chocolate. "Excuse me, Miss?" I
began.
 A. Friendly smile
B. Picked out a few songs
C. I rolled my eyes
D. “Excuse me, Miss?”

13. Which selection is written in first-person point of view? (9F)

A. I stood at the edge of the diving board, trying to ignore the line of swimmers
behind me. Swallowing my fear, I closed my eyes and leaped into the
shimmering surface.

B. Ava stood at the edge of the diving board and glanced down at the water. The
10-foot drop felt more like 100. "Well, what are you waiting for? Jump!" the
impatient swimmer behind her yelled.

C. He decided that he would count to three and jump. His heart pounded with fear
and his hands trembled, but he took a deep breath and launched himself off the
board into the water below.

D. Maya and Ava waited to jump off the high dive. Ava was next in line, and Maya
stood right behind her. Ava wanted to be brave, but jumping off would be easier if
she had the strength of a friend. Maya sensed Ava's fear and reached out for her
hand.

14. Which passage is written in third person limited point of view? (9F)

A. Arthur could hear his stomach grumbling and looked around quickly to see if
anyone else had noticed. He thought, “I am glad nobody heard that.” He looked
at the clock and saw that is was 10:30. He had 45 minutes until lunch! It seemed
like an eternity.
B. As I hurried towards my apartment, I could hear my dog, Ringo, howling. “Oh
no!” I thought. “Mr. Jenson is going to be so mad.” Mr. Jenson was the cranky
man who lived next door and was always complaining to my mom. It seemed as
if he were always knocking on our door to tell us to turn down our TV or walk
more quietly. It didn’t matter how low we kept the TV or how quietly we walked,
he always seemed to be complaining. With Ringo making so much noise, Mr.
Jenson would finally have a real reason to complain.
C. Caitlin couldn’t believe that her special day had come. Finally, after years of
struggling, she would graduate with her high school class. Caitlin sat,
remembering all of the teachers who had encouraged and supported her. She
wished that she could thank them right then and there for helping her become a
successful young woman.
D. I fell asleep in the back seat of the car. Football had taken all of my energy. I
loved the sport, but it was beginning to take a toll on me physically and mentally.
My mom has encouraged me to work hard and not quit. I’m convinced a good
night’s rest will be all that I need to get my motivation back, and be ready for the
big game this weekend.