from The Little Princess Review

Ermengarde is afraid her father will be angry when she

• is unable to understand and speak French.

• fails to understand the contents of her new books.

• wakes up the girls who share her room

• asks Sara to help her with her homework.

All these characteristics tell you this is a scene from a play except

• it contains a great deal of dialogue

• it includes directions that tell the actors how to speak their lines.

• it has the title "ACT II" at the top of the page.

• it gives the name of each character before the words she speaks.

What is the purpose of the first paragraph of the selection?

• to list the names of the cast of characters

• to introduce the major conflicts of the story

• to describe the scenery on the stage

• to tell you what the characters say to each other

How does the author tell you what the characters are feeling?

• She puts each character's name in front of her spoken words.

• She includes stage directions that describe the characters' emotions.

• She inserts the title "ACT II" at the top of the page.

• She makes the reader infer their emotions from the dialogue they speak.

In this scene, what is the most important difference between Sara and Ermengarde?

• Sara is good at pretending and Ermengarde is not.

• Sara is a good student and Ermengarde a bad one.

• Ermengardge has a room with other girls and Sara rooms alone.

• Ermengarde teaches little girls and Sara does not.

All these details support the idea that Sara is very badly off except

• she lives in a bare, ugly room.

• she has no books of her own.

• she is good at French.

• she has to teach small children.

The stage direction "(Holds them tight in her arms.)" suggests that Sara speaks

• angrily.

• sadly.

• wistfully.

• with intensity.

What do you learn about Sara when she says "I don't want your money, Ermy"?

• She is offended.

• She is hungry.

• She is rich.

• She is proud.

What underlying message is the author most likely trying to convey?

• When people are cruel and unkind, they deserve bad things to happen to them.

• Material comforts are much more important than things like imagination or intelligence.

• There is no point in facing unpleasant realities.

• It's easier to cope with things if you keep your courage up.

Read this excerpt from the selection.

ERMENGARDGE: (pause) Sara, if you'll do that, and make me remember, I'll--I'll give you some of my pocket-money.

The (pause) and repetition of "I'll--I'll" suggest that Ermengarde

• never intended to give or lend Sara her books.

• wishes she had never come up to the garret.

• is so grateful to Sara that she wants to cry.

• feels awkward about offering Sara money.