Theme Practice

Theme Practice

by Jessica Huffman

Multiple Choice

The Last Dream of Old Oak by Hans Christian Andersen

In the forest, high up on the steep shore, and not far from the open seacoast, stood a very old oak-tree. It was just three hundred and sixty-five years old, but that long time was to the tree as the same number of days might be to us; we wake by day and sleep by night, and then we have our dreams. It is different with the tree; it is obliged to keep awake through three seasons of the year, and does not get any sleep till winter comes. Winter is its time for rest; its night after the long day of spring, summer, and autumn. On many a warm summer, the Ephemera, the flies that exist for only a day, had fluttered about the old oak, enjoyed life and felt happy and if, for a moment, one of the tiny creatures rested on one of his large fresh leaves, the tree would always say, “Poor little creature! your whole life consists only of a single day. How very short. It must be quite melancholy.”

Which sentence states a theme of the passage?

• A Enjoy what life you have.

• B Do not envy others.

• C Live a long life.

• D Help those less fortunate.

Multiple Choice

Which detail from the text supports the theme to enjoy what life you have?

• A On many a warm summer, the Ephemera, the flies that exist for only a day

• B had fluttered about the old oak, enjoyed life and felt happy

• C if, for a moment, one of the tiny creatures rested on one of his large fresh leaves

• D the tree would always say, “Poor little creature! your whole life consists only of a single day.

Multiple Choice

Excerpt from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

I was now beginning to grow handsome; my coat had grown fine and soft, and was bright black. I had one white foot, and a pretty white star on my forehead: I was thought very handsome; my master would not sell me till I was four years old; he said lads ought not to work like men, and colts ought not to work like horses till they were quite grown up. When I was four years old, Squire Gordon came to look at me. He examined my eyes, my mouth and my legs; and then I had to walk and trot and gallop before him; he seemed to like me, and said "when he has been well broken in, he will do very well." My master said he would break me in himself, as he should not like me to be frightened or hurt, and he lost no time about it, for the next day he began. Everyone may not know what breaking in is, therefore I will describe it. It means to teach a horse to wear a saddle and bridle and to carry on his back a man, woman, or child; to go just the way they wish, and to go quietly. Beside this, he has to learn to wear a collar, a crupper, and a breeching, and to stand still while they are put on; then to have a cart or a chaise fixed behind him, so that he cannot walk or trot without dragging it after him: and he must go fast or slow, just as his driver wishes. He must never start at what he sees, nor speak to other horses, nor bite, nor kick, nor have any will of his own; but always do his master's will, even though he may be very tired or hungry; but the worst of all is, when his harness is once on, he may neither jump for joy nor lie down for weariness. So you will see this breaking in is a great thing.

Which sentence states a theme of the passage?

• A Change can be hard.

• B Trust those in power.

• Others will only hurt you.

• D It is hard to give up free will.

Multiple Choice

Which detail from the text supports the theme that it is hard to give up free will?

• A When I was four years old, Squire Gordon came to look at me.

• B My master said he would break me in himself, as he should not like me to be frightened or hurt

• C He must never start at what he sees, nor speak to other horses, nor bite, nor kick, nor have any will of his own