I Don't Like Ron Gonzales

What was the narrator's job before he was hired as a train operator?

• a bus driver

• a station announcer

• a member of a station cleanup crew

• a train operation instructor

How do the narrator's feelings for Ron Gonzales change as the story progresses?

• At the beginning of the story, he feels indifferent about Ron Gonzales. By the end of the story, he hates Ron Gonzales.

• At the beginning of the story, he likes Ron Gonzales. By the end of the story, he hates Ron Gonzales.

• At the beginning of the story, he dislikes Ron Gonzales. By the end of the story, he develops respect for Ron Gonzales.

• At the beginning of the story, he hates Ron Gonzales. By the end of the story, he feels indifferent about Ron Gonzales.

To safely drive a train, operators need to use both feel and mathematic equations at the same time.

What can be concluded from this information?

• Operating trains is simple.

• Only naturally gifted drivers can ever learn to operate trains.

• Operating a train requires both practice and concentration.

• Operating trains is safe.

Read the following sentences from the passage:

"Did that little dude just punk me? Or was he caught off-guard just like me? Either way, I looked right at him, and he held his ground. That was weird."

Based on the on the evidence in the passage, how was the narrator feeling?

• confused

• angry

• sad

• disappointed

What is the main theme of this passage?

• Operating trains is very difficult.

• Having friends is important when learning a new skill.

• People who do not like each other at first can end up liking each other.

• People who do not like each other at first can never become friends

Read the following sentences from the passage:

"Almost anyone can drive a train, but it takes practice to do it well. The wheel is small and heavy, and it only wants to make a quarter-turn at a time. Next time on a train that bucks a lot as it stops, you know a rookie's at the wheel."

As used in the passage, what does the word "rookie" mean?

• a driver who does not have enough experience to operate the train perfectly

• a very skilled train operator

• a driver who enjoys making passengers fall over

• a driver with a faulty train

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

The narrator is naturally good with the wheel used to operate the train, ________ he is not comfortable driving by math right away

• specifically

• but

• finally

• previously