Question Set 8 - L25

​from The Midwife’s Apprentice
by Karen Cushman

Will, so happy with twice the bounty¹ he expected from Tansy, made sure to tell everyone of his luck and of the great help Alyce had been to him, and Alyce felt her skin prickling with delight, although she got in a muck² of trouble for being so long about apple gathering and then losing the baskets as well as the fruit, for in the excitement of the twin calves they were forgotten and left behind and never seen again.

As September turned to October and October to November, through all those days, Alyce grew in knowledge and skills. The midwife, busy with her own importance, did not notice. Alyce, grown accustomed to herself, did not notice. But the villagers noticed, and as October turned to November and the ghosts walked on All Hallows’ Eve, they began to ask her how and why and what can I. Sometimes for her help or advice someone would pay her a ribbon or an egg or a loaf of cheese or bread, which she always gave to the midwife, as if Alyce herself were just the midwife’s hand or arm, doing the work and receiving the pay but taking no credit for the task.

​In the passage, it can be inferred that the villagers have come to recognize and appreciate Alyce's growing knowledge and skills. Initially, her contributions go unnoticed by both the midwife and herself, but as time passes, the villagers begin to seek her help and advice. The fact that they offer her small tokens of appreciation—like ribbons, eggs, or bread—indicates that they value her contributions. Although Alyce gives these items to the midwife, this gesture shows that the villagers see Alyce as a capable and knowledgeable individual, even if she doesn't fully acknowledge her own worth. Overall, their willingness to ask for her assistance and reward her suggests they hold her in high regard.

Multiple Choice

Based on this passage, what can be inferred about the villagers' attitudes toward Alyce's contributions?

• They view her as unimportant and ignore her efforts.

• They are indifferent to her presence in the community.

• They value Alyce's knowledge and skills.

• They believe she should receive more training before helping others.

​To infer (make an educated guess) the villagers' attitudes toward Alyce's contributions, two key pieces of evidence can be highlighted from the passage:

1. Recognition of Alyce's Skills: The passage mentions that "the villagers noticed" Alyce's growth in knowledge and skills, suggesting that they began to recognize and value her contributions over time. This indicates a positive attitude toward her abilities and suggests that they were increasingly seeking her help and advice.

2. Exchange for Help: The fact that villagers began to pay Alyce for her assistance with items like "a ribbon or an egg or a loaf of cheese or bread" reflects their acknowledgment of her contributions. They are willing to offer something in return for her help, indicating respect and appreciation for her skills, even if she does not take credit for her work.

These pieces of evidence together imply that the villagers have a growing admiration for Alyce's abilities, viewing her as a valuable member of the community.

Multiple Select

Which two pieces of evidence best support the answer to PART A?

• Alyce receives payments in the form of ribbons and eggs.

• The midwife is too busy to notice Alyce’s progress.

• Villagers begin asking her for help and advice.

• Alyce feels overwhelmed by the amount of work she has to do.

​The figure of speech “as if Alyce herself were just the midwife’s hand or arm” suggests that Alyce sees herself as an extension of the midwife rather than as an independent person with her own skills and contributions. This implies a lack of recognition of her own worth and capabilities; she diminishes her role and talents, attributing all credit to the midwife. It highlights her humility and possibly her desire to remain in the background, feeling that her work is only valuable in relation to the midwife’s reputation. This dynamic illustrates Alyce's journey of self-discovery, as she is gaining knowledge and skills, yet still struggles with asserting her own identity and receiving the recognition she deserves.

Multiple Choice

“Sometimes for her help or advice someone would pay her a ribbon or an egg or a loaf of cheese or bread, which she always gave to the midwife, as if Alyce herself were just the midwife’s hand or arm, doing the work and receiving the pay but taking no credit for the task.”

What does the figure of speech as if Alyce herself were just the midwife’s hand or arm suggest about Alyce?

• Alyce behaves as if the midwife deserves credit for Alyce's actions.

• enjoys the attention she receives.

• is more skilled than the midwife.

• She is independent and self-sufficient.

Alyce enjoys the appreciation she receives from Will, which suggests that she values recognition and connection with others. His acknowledgment of her contributions brings her joy and a sense of belonging. However, the second part of the answer reveals that despite this appreciation, Alyce does not feel pride in her accomplishments. This suggests an internal struggle; she may not fully recognize or accept her growth and skills as her own. Instead of feeling empowered by her progress, she remains humble, possibly viewing her achievements as extensions of the midwife’s work rather than her own. This reflects a complex relationship with self-worth, where she appreciates external validation but lacks personal pride in her abilities.

Multiple Choice

How does Alyce feel about the ways she has changed?

• Sad

• She feels proud of her skills and use them to help everyone else.

• She likes being appreciated by Will, but she does not feel pride in all her accomplishments.

• Surprised

​The two pieces of evidence that best support the answer are:

1. "Will... made sure to tell everyone of his luck and of the great help Alyce had been to him, and Alyce felt her skin prickling with delight." This shows that Alyce appreciates being recognized by Will for her contributions, indicating that she enjoys the acknowledgment and validation from others.

2. "Someone would pay her a ribbon or an egg or a loaf of cheese or bread, which she always gave to the midwife." This highlights that although people value her help and offer her rewards, she chooses to give all the credit and compensation to the midwife. This indicates that while she is helpful and appreciated, she does not take pride in her accomplishments as her own, reinforcing the idea that she lacks personal pride in her skills.

Together, these pieces of evidence illustrate her mixed feelings about appreciation and her reluctance to acknowledge her own achievements.

Multiple Select

PART B: Which two pieces of evidence best support the answer to PART A?

• Will... made sure to tell everyone of his luck and of the great help Alyce had been to him, and Alyce felt her skin prickling with delight.

• She was excited to build skills and knowledge.

• Someone would pay her ribbon or an eggor a loaf of cheese or bread, which she always gave the midwife.

• They begin to ask her how and why and what can I