Selection

Name: Date:
Test

Read the paired selections in your Student Edition and choose the best answer to each question.

Thank You, M’am

by Langston Hughes

A Police Stop Changed This Teenager’s Life

by Amy B Wang

1 After getting Roger to her home in “Thank You, M’am,” how does Mrs. Jones show that she
trusts Roger?
She asks him to wash his face.
She tells him her full name and address.
She tells her neighbors to keep their doors open.
She leaves out her purse when she makes dinner.

2 In “Thank You, M’am,” what two words best describe Mrs. Jones?
Dismissive
Generous
Mean
Rich
Outspoken

3 In “Thank You, M’am,” what is the most likely reason Roger decides to wash his face rather
than run away in paragraph 25?
He wants Mrs. Jones to give him dinner.
He is confused by the way Mrs. Jones is acting.
He is sure that Mrs. Jones will call the police.
He is waiting for a chance to steal from Mrs. Jones.

Grade 7 1 Selection Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

 Selection
Name: Date:
Test

4 Read the sentence from paragraph 37 of “Thank You, M’am.”

“You might run that comb through your hair so you will look presentable.”
The suffixes -able and -ible mean “capable or worthy of.” What does the word presentable
mean as it is used in this sentence?
Worthy of introduction to others
Capable of adjusting appearance
Worthy of the time of someone else
Capable of combing hair

5 This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
In “Thank You, M’am,” how does the unfamiliar setting first create an internal conflict for
Roger?
It makes him think about turning down the offer of food.
It makes him feel ashamed to want new shoes.
It makes him consider escaping Mrs. Jones’s house.
It makes him have mixed feelings when he leaves Mrs. Jones’s house.
Part B
Which quote from the selection best supports the answer to Part A?
Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the
sink. (paragraph 25)
“Maybe you ain’t been to your supper either, late as it be.” (paragraph 28)
Then he frowned, but not knowing he frowned. (paragraph 36)
“That will be fine,” said the boy. (paragraph 41)

6 Based on the first meeting between Officer Keffer and Jourdan Duncan in “A Police Stop
Changed This Teenager’s Life,” the reader can conclude that —
Officer Keffer was concerned about Duncan
Officer Keffer thought he recognized Duncan

Grade 7 2 Selection Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

 Selection
Name: Date:
Test

Duncan was looking for someone to help him

Duncan had already been in trouble with the law

Grade 7 3 Selection Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

 Selection
Name: Date:
Test

7 The author organizes paragraph 6 in “A Police Stop Changed This Teenager’s Life” by —
explaining a route to work
describing a problem and solution
giving examples of routes to work
comparing walking and driving

8 Which words from paragraph 6 of “A Police Stop Changed This Teenager’s Life” help the
reader understand what burdening means?
timing belt and an engine valve
got a few rides
a lot of people’s time
never told his parents

9 Read this sentence.

after graduating from high school, jourdan duncan got a job at pro-form laboratories in
benicia, california.
What is the correct way to write this sentence?
After graduating from high school, Jourdan Duncan got a job at pro-form laboratories in
benicia, california.
After graduating from high school, Jourdan Duncan got a job at pro-form laboratories in
Benicia, California.
After graduating from high school, Jourdan Duncan got a job at Pro-Form Laboratories in
Benicia, California.
After graduating from High School, Jourdan Duncan got a job at Pro-Form Laboratories in
Benicia, California.

Grade 7 4 Selection Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

 Selection
Name: Date:
Test

10 Which overall structure does the author use to organize “A Police Stop Changed This
Teenager’s Life”?
Descriptive
Chronological
Cause and effect
Problem and solution

11 Mark the boxes to indicate whether each character trait applies to Jourdan from “A Police
Stop Changed This Teenager’s Life,” Roger from “Thank You, M’am,” or both.
Jourdan Roger Both Jourdan and Roger

Appreciative □ □ □
Hard-working □ □ □
Teachable □ □ □

12 Both selections begin with a chance meeting between two people. How are the events in
these two selections similar? How are they different? Use details from both selections to
support your answer.

Grade 7 5 Selection Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Tennessee ELA Academic Standards (2016) Answer Key:
Thank You, M’am / A Police Stop Changed This
Teenager’s Life Selection Test
Item Item Stem Correct Tennessee DOK
Number Answer
Standards

1 After getting Roger to her home in D 7.RL.KID.3 2

“Thank You, M’am,” how does Mrs.
Jones show that she trusts Roger?

2 In “Thank You, M’am,” what two words B, E 7.RL.KID.3 2

best describe Mrs. Jones?

3 In “Thank You, M’am,” what is the most B 7.RL.KID.3 2

likely reason Roger decides to wash his
face rather than run away in
paragraph 25?

4 Read the sentence from paragraph 37 of A 7.L.VAU.4.b 2

“Thank You, M’am.”
“You might run that comb through your
hair so you will look presentable.”
The suffixes -able and -ible mean
“capable or worthy of.” What does the
word presentable mean as it is used in
this sentence?

5A Part A C 7.RI.KID.3 3
In “Thank You, M’am,” how does the
unfamiliar setting first create an internal
conflict for Roger?

5B Part B A 7.RI.KID.1 3
Which quote from the selection best
supports the answer to Part A?

6 Based on the first meeting between A 7.RI.KID.1 2

Officer Keffer and Jourdan Duncan in “A
Police Stop Changed This Teenager’s
Life,” the reader can conclude that —

Grade 7 6 Selection Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

 Item Item Stem
Number
7 The author organizes paragraph 6 in “A
Police Stop Changed This Teenager’s
Life” by —
8 Which words from paragraph 6 of “A
Police Stop Changed This Teenager’s
Life” help the reader understand what
burdening means?
9 Read this sentence.
after graduating from high school,
jourdan duncan got a job at pro-form
laboratories in benicia, california.
What is the correct way to write this
sentence?
10 Which overall structure does the author
use to organize “A Police Stop Changed
This Teenager’s Life”?
11 Mark the boxes to indicate whether
each character trait applies to Jourdan
from “A Police Stop Changed This
Teenager’s Life,” Roger from “Thank
You, M’am,” or both.
12 Both selections begin with a chance
meeting between two people. How are
the events in these two selections
similar? How are they different? Use
details from both selections to support
your answer.
Grade 7
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Correct Tennessee DOK
Answer
Standards
B 7.RI.CS.5 2
C 7.L.VAU.4.a 2
C 7.L.CSE.2 2
B 7.RI.CS.5 1
Jourdan: Hard-working 7.RI.IKI.9 3
Roger: Teachable
Both Jourdan and Roger: Appreciative
Sample Answer: In both selections, the 7.RI.KID.1, 3
narrative begins with a chance 7.RI.IKI.9
encounter between an adult and a
teenage boy in an urban setting at night.
The meetings occur for different
reasons, however. In “Thank You,
M’am,” the interaction is initiated when
the teen tries to steal a purse. In “A
Police Stop Changed This Teenager’s
Life,” the interaction is initiated by the
adult, a policeman who sees a boy
walking alone in a deserted area.
7 Selection Test